Australia

Biomass Gasification Using Solar Thermal Energy (pdf)
M. Munzinger and K. Lovegrove, Solar Thermal Group, Department of Engineering, Australian National University, Canberra ACT 0200, AUSTRALIA, ANZES 2006
Courtesy of Peter Singfield July 2007

Hydrogen from Biomass as an energy carrier has generated increasing interest in recent years. There are several different technologies to convert solid or liquid Biomass into a gas mix consisting of mainly hydrogen and carbon dioxide. Up to 30% of the energy stored in the product gas would originate from the sun by using solar thermal applications to source the conversion while the equivalent of 30% of the product gas would have to be burned using conventional approaches. This paper explains the principles of the main technical pathways for biomass gasification and shows their advantages and disadvantages especially in connection with the use of solar heat as energy source for the conversion reaction. Biomass gasification in supercritical water appears to be a simple and efficient and thus most convenient approach for solar thermal applications.

Conference Announcement for the International Agrichar Initiative (IAI) April 29-May 2, 2007 Terrigal, New South Wales, Australia

Fluidyne Update, Gasification in California,Australia and Northern Ireland, September 2006

The Gas Producer - Science and Construction

The Gas Producer

"I have seen this vehicle running myself some years ago and was driven by Robert and Maraget Pope.

"The vehicle shown above had a top speed of 80 kilometres and has travelled throughout Australia"

Their story is presented on the linked web page.

Activated Carbon, Electricity (5 MW) and Eucalyptus Oil, Near Completion
Enecon Pty Ltd, Australia, September 2005