50/50 by 2020 - It begins!

Bio diesel plant for the Eurobodalla
Wednesday, 6 September 2006

Moruya lawyer Julia Mayo-Ramsay and Eurobodalla Shire councillor Chris Kowal are both members of the Clean Energy for Eternity group.

The Bega-based group is looking to reduce the Bega Shire's energy consumption by 50 per cent by 2020.

They propose the following:

Although there is some debate as to when Peak Oil will be reach, and some say that it has been reached already the time to re think the way we use fuel is ripe.

With the spiraling cost of oil and the huge amounts of fuel excise further stinging the hip pocket it is time regional areas such as the Eurobodalla look at alternatives which will not only be cheaper but also renewable, and can be produced locally

Fuel made from vegetable oil has a number of distinct advantages over fossil fuel. Firstly, it is renewable and has positive environmental benefits. Instead of releasing stored carbon into the atmosphere the amount of carbon that is stored by the plant during its growing cycle is the same as what is released during combustion. This fact provides a distinct production advantage in that photosynthesis occurs naturally, in which the majority of the energy requirements are provided free by the environment. This results in a net energy benefit or a positive energy balance ratio.

An energy balance ratio is a comparison of the energy stored in a fuel to the energy required to grow, process and distribute that fuel. The energy balance ratio of bio-diesel is at least 2.5 to 1. For every one unit of energy put into the fertiliser, pesticides, fuel, feedstock, extraction, refining, processing and transporting of bio-diesel, there are at least b2.5 units of energy contained in the bio-diesel. Therefore, Bio-diesel has a positive energy balance ratio because it is an efficient carrier of solar energy.

Further advantages of such a plant are numerous but include;

* Can be locally grown by farmers

* Cleaner than traditional diesel fuels

* Will reduce the rising fuel costs to farmers (who are unable to pass on their costs)

* Reduces our reliance on world oil and its prices

At a public meeting on Monday 21 August 2006, Bega Valley Shire Mayor Tony Allen, made a commitment to look into setting up a bio diesel plant for the Bega area. If Bega can do it then so too can the Eurobodalla. With the Government subsidies available a small plant could be up and running within the year. The plant could be designed to be expanded to keep up with increasing demand.