Wshop161102: Expanding bioenergy solution benefits
held at The Amora Hotel, Wellington on 2 November 2016
The Bioenergy Association has developed a suite of strategies and action plans to assist industrial energy users transition from fossil fuels and achieve business benefits. This also applies to communities, to utilise municipal and trade waste and improve air quality; farmers to reduce discharge to waterways and gain additional revenue from their land as well as to help New Zealand to meet its climate change and economic growth targets.
Currently 2.3MWth of switching from coal to wood fuel is occurring annually, and this could increase to 25MWth pa by 2040, with a consequent 5.3Mt CO2-e emissions reduction annually.
The focus of this event was to:
- Provide an overview of the bioenergy and biofuel market to assist you identify the opportunities that are relevant to your business, community or regulatory activities
- Guide where the market is going and why it is growing
- Indicate which niche markets are likely to provide a pathway forward for your business
- Provide an update on the New Zealand Bioenergy Strategy.
- Showcase the significant niche growth that is occurring
To make the most of our energy potential, as encouraged by the Government in its Energy Strategy, the Bioenergy Association has looked at what can be gained for business and communities by employing bioenergy solutions. The users can be grouped under direct heat, methane removal using waste to energy technologies, and transport.
With appropriate infrastructure changes, many business can transition from coal to using biomass as fuel for heating, thus reduce operating costs and meet discharge to air consent requirements.
Communities can use biomass from waste water treatment plants and landfills as a renewable source of energy, reduce the discharge of methane (a major greenhouse gas) to air and extend the life of their landfill.
Urban transport can significantly reduce polluting discharges to air through the use of liquid and gaseous biofuels.
This event would have been of specific interest to bioenergy solution providers, energy users, regulators, policy developers and service providers. It provided an update on how to make successful use of the opportunities. The Conference also provided an opportunity to meet others in the sector who may be working on regulatory development.
Quick links
held at The Amora Hotel, Wellington on 2 November 2016
Scroll down and use the hyperlinks to view presentations from the conference.
Speakers
Grant Smith
GM Business Development and Strategy, Pioneer Energy & Bioenergy Association NZ Chair
As GM Business Development & Strategy for Pioneer Energy Ltd, Grant is involved in all facets of the business and has a proven executive management track record with over 15 years of experience driving growth in the electricity industry. Grant was CEO of Energy for Industry (EFI) a market leader in providing energy solutions and partnering to some of New Zealand’s leading exporters, and institutions. On the sale of the business to Pioneer Generation (now Pioneer Energy) in 2012, Grant’s highly valued expertise and knowledge was recognised and retained as is reflected in his role in the executive team.
Prior to heading EFI, Grant was Meridian Energy’s Portfolio Manager of Trading & Generation, responsible for the overall risk trading risk position and he led the integration of Meridian Energy's wholesale and retail market positions.
Grant has previously worked in the Australian and New Zealand energy markets in roles including power station development, strategy and business development, technology research, commercial and trading risk management and retail sales and marketing.
Grant is active in the governance and memberships of a number of clean energy Associations in New Zealand and is the current Chair of Bioenergy Association NZ.
View Pioneer Energy's company profile
Adelia Hallett
Publisher, Carbon News
Presentation: Trends in the New Zealand energy market - opportunities for bioenergy
Adelia Hallett is the publisher of Carbon News, New Zealand's daily news service covering the carbon markets and sustainable business. She has also worked for a range of government departments, business organisations, not-for-profits and media outlets.
Brian Cox
Executive Officer, Bioenergy Association
Presentation: Overview of the market drivers for bioenergy solutions - a market analysis
Brian has been a long-standing champion of using NZ’s natural resources for the creation of sustainable communities and has assisted the Bioenergy Association for the last decade.
Brian is often called upon as a commentator to provide insight into matters of biogas, wood energy and liquid biofuels. Brian assists Bioenergy Association members to build their businesses and grow the sector.
The organisation maintains a clear, strong voice in advocating the benefits of bioenergy and a reminder that New Zealand already relies on bioenergy for 14% of its energy needs. The Association estimates that bioenergy could supply up to 25% of New Zealand’s energy needs by 2040, including 30% of transport fuel, and that it has the potential to generate around $6 billion in annual revenue for the country’s economy.
Brian has helped build confidence within industry in order to encourage conversion from coal to wood fuel. His focus has been on developing consistent supply chains of wood fuel and working with organisations to increase understanding of how bioenergy can be good for business as well as the environment.
John Gifford
Principal Consultant, Gifford Consulting and Wood Energy Interest Group
John has over 30 years experience with forestry and bioenergy. Major roles have included:
- Inaugural chairman of Bioenergy Association of New Zealand (2000-2004)
- NZ Team Leader for Task 32 IEA Bioenergy “Biomass Combustion and Co-firing”.
- NZ Representative, IEA Bioenergy Executive Committee
- Science Manager, Scion’s Bioenergy programme (2000-2007)
- Programme Leader, Wood Fuels Interest Group (for BANZ under contract).
- Coordinator - BANZ wood energy training courses
- Leader, Measurement Nga Pumanawa E Waru, Community and education change project in Rotorua
John provides Consulting services related to the utilisation of woody fuels and feedstocks; wood fuel supply systems and value chains; combustion systems and co-firing; feasibility studies; environmental impacts of bioenergy projects; preparation of expert evidence for consent and Environment Court hearings; Life Cycle Assessment for bioenergy projects. John also has a strong interest in social and community change processes and is currently involved with the Sustainable Living Steering Group of the Lakes District Council and is working for a Nga Pumanawa e Waru which is a community change and education initiative in Rotorua. John's role for this project is programme evaluation. John also advocates the use of 'Collective Impact' for bioenergy and sustainable development projects.
View Gifford Consulting's company profile
Paul Bennett
Science Leader, Clean Technologies, Scion
Presentation: Global drivers for biofuels - relevance for NZ
Paul is responsible for Scion’s research and development efforts on Biofuels, Bioenergy, Environmental Technologies and Industrial Ecology. Paul has a Chemistry background, with over 25 years technical and commercial expertise in transport fuels, biofuels and bioenergy. He has experience in developing technology and implementation strategy for a wide range of companies and Government in this sector.
Currently, his key focus is identifying the optimum route to large scale implementation of bioenergy and biofuels in New Zealand. New Zealand faces challenges over its commitments toward climate change and over energy security. Biofuels and bioenergy can help to address these challenges, but it needs alignment along the supply chain, from feedstock producers to the end users of products to be successful. Identifying key feedstocks and extracting maximum value from these feedstocks is important to ensure a viable sector. This presentation will explore the challenges and opportunities in a potential NZ biofuels activity.
View Scion's company profile
Steve Brewster
ADI Systems Inc & Bioenergy Association Biogas Interest Group's convenor
Presentation: The opportunities and barriers to extracting value from municipal and trade waste
Steve has been involved in the biogas or waste-to-energy and waste treatment for the last 27 years. He worked initially in the Centre for Waste Treatment laboratories at the Invermay Agricultural Research Centre, near Mosgiel in Otago and is now responsible for electrical and control system design and commissioning of many of the waste to energy plants ADI Systems Asia Pacific designs and builds around the world.
Steve has developed a broad knowledge and practical understanding of Anaerobic Digestion systems (biogas) and waste treatment systems in general. He spends a portion of his time mentoring and teaching those who wish to learn about this field of activity and providing information to those seeking more detail on, or contemplating using, Anaerobic Digestion. This includes work colleagues, the public and students. He is also the Convener of the Bioenergy Association Biogas Interest Group.
Because it is a well proven technology Steve is intent on seeing Anaerobic digestion used to a far greater extent in New Zealand and sees this technology as widely applicable to many of New Zealand’s waste disposal problems, as well as going some way toward providing renewable energy, Green House Gas emissions mitigation and slowing landfilling. He has been involved in many overseas projects but now wants to see the benefits “brought home” to New Zealand.
A concept presently being explored is for a series of community digesters set near a large steady source of waste feed material but also available for disposal of other local organic wastes with the energy extracted also being used by local industry.
View ADI Systems Asia Pacific's company profile
Grant Dunford
Director, Negawatt Resources Ltd and Board member, Bioenergy Association
Presentation: Climate change = economic growth potential in the regions through business
From a background in building, finance, refrigeration & air conditioning Grant created NZ’s first commercial energy efficiency company, Negawatt Resources, in 1992. Operating in the commercial and domestic sectors he believed energy efficiency should pay for itself undertaking the first shared savings retrofit of a commercial building for Price Waterhouse, first energy efficient new build service station and new commercial building, Mobil on the Park, for Mobil Oil. However his real interest lay in the health and financial benefits energy efficiency could deliver into communities.
He developed a trial scheme (PEEP) the Porirua Energy Efficiency Project, in 2000 from which an identified need for energy efficiency education in the homes saw Energy Action, a whole of school energy resource, born. The resource was delivered into 1400 NZ primary schools, achieved an average 32% energy saving and won International and NZ marketing awards for multi audience marketing.
He subsequently supported and helped establish most of the community owned and operated home energy efficiency retrofit organisations throughout New Zealand before the EECA Energy Wise program supplanted all but the Moerewa and Awarua Research Project in Bluff, that now operates out of Timaru.
Grant joined BANZ in 2013, becoming a Board member in 2015. He sees Bio Energy as the next logical step to establish regional economic renewal and resilience.
His aspiration is for BANZ to facilitate its member expertise, collaboratively develop regionally owned and operated multi stream Bio Processing of the many available waste residues.
View Negawatt Resources' company profile
Jonathan Hill
Corporate Communications and Investor Relations Manager, Z Energy
Presentation: Biofuels in today's transport market
Jonathan has more than 15 years of experience leading a wide range of corporate functions for high profile organisations, including listed companies. He specialises in leading corporate communications, investor relations, community investment programmes and developing and maintaining important relationships with a wide range of stakeholders based on trust and distinctive communication.
His role at Z combines a strong focus on commercial operation and interaction with capital markets with a culture that values transparency, trust and finding creative new ways to communicate and do business.
Jonathan joined Z on the first day of the new company in 2010 and has been part of the growth of a new New Zealand company that does things in a distinctive Kiwi way with a focus on contributing to sustainability and stronger communities.
He has been part of Z’s Bio Diesel project, which reflects Z’s commitment to sustainability through reducing carbon emissions from the fuels it sells. After more than four years of planning Z Bio D is about to go to market. Jonathan says that Z Bio D is just one way the company looking to the future to make sure that Z is for New Zealand.
View Z Energy's company profile
Frances Pavlovich
Implementation Manager, Pavlovich Transport Solutions
Presentation: Biofuels is a viable urban transport solution to air pollution
Frances Pavlovich is the holder of a Bachelor of Chemical and Materials Engineering and of a Diploma in Business in Operations Management. She has over 25 years of experience in large scale manufacturing from her career at New Zealand Steel where she held numerous roles in technology, product development and operations as well as several significant capital projects.
More recently she has worked in the family business in the areas of health and safety, alternative fuels and tender preparations. Her recent appointment to the role of Implementation Manager follows the company’s successful bid for Auckland Transport’s new public transport contracts in West Auckland.
Frances’ passion for alternative fuels comes from a blend of her engineering background, her recognition of the need to improve the quality of our environment and her husband, the CEO’s, desire to be a leader in the provision of a more sustainable public transport service.
View Pavlovich Transport's company profile
Cathy Jordon
Business Projects Coordinator, Venture Southland
Presentation: Wood Energy South assisting regional business to transition from fossil fuels
Cathy is a Business projects coordinator at Venture Southland and is focused on a number of the carbon reduction and energy projects within the Southland region. Cathy is currently coordinating the Wood Energy South project, Methane recovery on dairy farms, a Solar PV installation and monitoring, Electric Vehicles awareness programme and a regional policy working group to implement the Southland energy strategy.
As a Trustee of the Borland Lodge Adventure and Education Trust, Cathy has successfully coordinated and fundraised for the installation of a 22.5KW solar PV system.
Cathy studied a BSc majoring in Geography and Psychology at Canterbury University and completed her Prince 2 project management certificate. She is heavily involved in the Southland community and sporting organisations.
View Venture Southland's company profile
Wayne McCallum
Managing Director, McCallums Group, Invercargill
Wayne McCallum is the managing director of McCallums Group, a locally owned and operated family business which began operations in 1927 by Wayne’s grandfather. McCallums Group is an Industrial laundry and dry cleaning facility based in Invercargill with up to 75 employees.
Wayne is a qualified registered electrician with advanced trade, and was trained in an industrial environment.
Wayne and his wife Sheryl enjoy overseas travel. Wayne also loves spending time with family and friends and has a particular interest in history.
The majority of Wayne’s time at McCallums Group involves project managing, manufacture and modification of equipment involved with the laundry and dry cleaning industry.
Richard Briggs
Business Partnerships and Channel Manager, Energy Efficiency & Conservation Authority (EECA)
Presentation: Collaboration with central Government
Richard is responsible for the management and motivation of all EECA service delivery partners and leads EECA’s partnerships with the industry sector.
EECA Business contributes to the Government’s priority of building a more productive and competitive economy by promoting improved energy efficiency and the increased use of renewable energy. EECA targets carbon reduction opportunities to help New Zealand’s transition to a low emissions economy.
Prior to joining EECA, Richard held roles at Director, CEO and General Manager levels in the telecommunications industry.
Richard has extensive channel experience gained over 30 years of building partnerships and managing third party relationships in New Zealand, Australia and the Pacific Islands.
Go to EECA's website
Panelists
Brook Brewerton
Sales Manager, Azwood Energy
Brook Brewerton represents the third generation in the Azwood Energy family, a company with 38 years in energy supply. Brook champions adaptability, professionalism and innovation in a time of positive disruption in the bioenergy sector.
Brook has always known the energy supply sector, enculturated in both the trends and technical aspects of heat supply. An MBA earned while working at Azwood Energy has formed a nexus of knowledge and experience that is emblematic of the Azwood Energy organisation.
Azwood Energy is New Zealand’s leading supplier of bulk wood energy. With 30 full-time staff and three production yards, Azwood Energy can deliver scale and capability, both in fuel supply and customer care.
Brook sees industry collaboration as the driver for pushing the bioenergy sector from an emerging to an established market, and with that extends this invitation; “if you have a question, an idea or just want to build your industry network, please email me or pick up the phone anytime.”
View Azwood Energy's company profile
Joel Allen
PhD Candidate and Graduate Teaching Assistant, University of Auckland
Joel Allen is a PhD Candidate and Graduate Teaching Assistant in Graduate School of Management, University of Auckland Business School. He is the Research Assistant for a team of scholars currently examining the ways in which leading firms in New Zealand, Singapore, Sweden and Finland shape the markets in which they operate.
Joel is a Chartered Investment Manager (CIM®) and former investment banker who acquired expert knowledge in corporate finance, securities origination and trading, financial engineering and strategic planning before becoming a student of Strategic Management. Drawing on previous experience of collaborating with competitors in market and nonmarket arenas, Joel’s PhD considers how market emergence is shaped by nonmarket collaboration, particularly industry associations. In general, his research interests include the use of lawful nonmarket collaborations by firms to acquire and maintain competitive advantages over other rivals in their markets.
Jurgen Thiele
Senior Principal, Calibre Consulting
Jürgen is senior principal at Calibre Consulting and has 38 years of experience in biogas process biochemistry, biotechnology, process design and implementation (wastewater treatment plants and Waste to Energy projects). Jürgen applies his expertise to achieve improved energy efficiency in municipal wastewater treatment, innovations in the biogas field, bioenergy project development, value recovery from organic waste, biogas digester efficiency upgrades and rapid digester process start-up. Jurgen had close involvement in the design and implementation of regional Waste to Energy facilities in New Zealand, Australia and Asia including the Camellia biomass project in Paramatta. Recent successes were the design& implementation of innovative ways for cost effective digester capacity upgrades in the municipal wastewater industry – for example the digester process optimization of the existing sludge digesters in Palmerston North (PNCC) and Hamilton (HCC) to improved biogas production capacity. And the retrofit of the PNCC municipal sludge digesters to trade waste digestion achieving quadruped biogas output without construction of new digesters. The innovation received the Ronald Hicks Memorial Award from Water NZ in 2010 and an ACENZ InnovateNZ award in 2015.
View Calibre Consulting's company profile
Lloyd McGinty
Venture Southland
Ko Hikurangi te maunga
Ko Waiapu te awa
Ko Ngati Porou te iwi
Ko Te Whanau a Tuwhakairiora/Te Aotaki te hapu
Ko Lloyd McGinty ahau
Lloyd works part-time for Venture Southland as the technical support role for Wood Energy South. He trained as a plumber/gasfitter for more than 15 years before attending the University of Otago - graduating with a science degree in Energy Studies in 2006. His trade compliments his professional qualifications and provides an additional insight into projects.
Lloyd is also very involved in the Otago and Southland wood biomass sector and has been involved in a large number of wood feasibility projects, project peer reviews, coal conversion projects and trials, fuel tendering and negotiations and fuel supply studies. Lloyd has recently returned from Europe after visiting large biomass district heating and co-generation plant. While an advocate for modern biomass plant, Lloyd is also interested in further investigations to convert coal plant as a transition to wood energy.
View Venture Southland's company profile
Simon Arnold
Chief Executive, National Energy Research Institute (NERI) (half-time) and Convener Liquid Biofuels Interest Group, Bioenergy Association;
Managing Director, arnold.co.nz
NERI represents key NZ’s energy research providers and is the process of developing an energy research strategy in conjunction with MBIE and other government agencies. arnold.co.nz commercialises physics and engineering based technologies, and has been closely associated with the development of the high temperature superconductor industry in NZ. Simon is a member of the MacDiarmid Institute industry advisory board. Through arnold.co.nz Simon has invested in a number of start-up companies over the years, including Blended Fuel Solutions NZ Ltd that is developing fit for purpose fuels, an Nufuels Ltd that is developing decentralised pyrolysis, initially focused on waste tyres.
Simon has held senior policy and operational roles in the public service, and ran the then NZ Manufacturers Federation.
View company profile
Brad Coleman
Canterbury Woodchip Supplies
Brad is the owner of Canterbury Woodchip Supplies (CWS) which has been operating since 2011. Since purchasing his first whole tree woodchipper 4 years ago the business has expanded supplying a diverse range of woodchip products to various industries.
The key to CWS’s success is the flexibility of the product supplied. A rotary dryer installed in 2012 allows product to be dried to meet customer specifications. A layered deck screen allows chips to be sized and graded whilst extensive covered storage allows customers the ability to call and product to always be available.
Dairy farming clients have been the recipient of much of the wood chip, utilized in their herd homes or calf pens. The ability to dry and screen has meant commercial clients including C-Bay Swimming Pool in Timaru and Hillmorton Hospital in Christchurch receive chips of a moisture content and grade that meets their boilers specifications.
In 2015 CWS purchased a second woodchipper in order to supply Burwood Hospital with biomass.
Brad believes the outlook for wood fuel is positive and is looking forward to the next few years of challenges which should see the market change dramatically.
View Canterbury Woodchip Supplies' company profile
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