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Integrated Wood Processing (IWP)

Introduction

The major environmental challenge in the Western Australian Wheatbelt is dry-land salinity. The result of 100 years of removing trees, salinity so far has affected 1.8 million hectares (or 9%) of the Wheatbelt. Under threat is another 24% of productive land, 30 regional towns and up to 400 plant species.

A long-term solution is the replacement of tree cover to restore the ground-water balance. Restoring tree cover will contribute significantly to general biodiversity and sustainable agricultural productivity.


The farm and ecological impact of dryland salinity

As well it will provide a major sink for carbon dioxide, which is the main contributor to climate change, the impact of which is already being experienced. The sustainable fuel source that the trees provide will also displace fossil-fuelled electricity generation.

Tree planting on the scale needed requires a commercial driver and the Integrated Wood Processing (IWP) project is recognised as a sustainable pioneer in this regard. IWP is the co-production of Renewable Electricity, Activated Carbon and eucalyptus oil from tree-crops.

Aerial and on-ground views of mallee alleys integrated into cereal/sheep farming systems
Aerial and on-ground views of mallee alleys integrated into cereal/sheep farming systems

The Technology

Combined with eucalyptus oil extraction, the IWP offers the potential to commercialise charcoaling, carbon activation technology and renewable electricity generation.  The technology was developed in Australia by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), which Verve Energy adapted to electricity generation.  Production from mallee tree feedstock of three marketable products - activated carbon, renewable electricity and eucalyptus oil - allows the mallee chain to be viable for farmers and developers alike.

The Narrogin IWP Demonstration Project

Verve Energy successfully tested the IWP concept at the Narrogin demonstration plant.  The plant achieved its primary objectives of proving that:

  • The individual process modules operate in their own right;
  • The individual process modules can be integrated successfully;
  • The overall process technology can be scaled up from batch to continuous operation;
  • The biomass delivery system can be developed;
  • The proposed continuous harvesting system has benefits in terms of quality and cost;
  • The quality of the activated carbon and eucalyptus oil co-products is suitable for the international market; and
  • Renewable electricity can be produced for sale.

Some of the products from the demonstration project
Some of the products from the demonstration project

Markets

World demand for activated carbon is growing at 5% per annum and growth will be strongest in Granular Activated Carbon, the type produced in the IWP process.

World Activated Carbon Demand
World Activated Carbon Demand

Eucalyptus Oil has strong growth potential in its traditional markets, but also in a suite of new and exciting applications that exploit its natural advantages.

Renewable Energy from the IWP process displaces fossil fuel generation and can replicate the role of coal-fired power stations in providing base-load, 24 hour, reliable and stable dispatch.  Verve Energy has guaranteed to take the electrical output from the first IWP plant at market rates.

Growth Opportunities

As well as opportunities to build, own and operate IWP plants in Australia and overseas, the process can be expanded to add further value to existing products or to produce additional products such as potable water, hydrogen, fuel pellets, oil derivatives, agrichar, metallurgical charcoal etc.

The Next Stage

Verve Energy has successfully demonstrated the IWP technology through the demonstration plant at Narrogin.  Now Verve Energy wants to take the next logical step and build the first commercial scale IWP plant, with a view to further development in the future.

To find out more about how you could be involved with IWP development, view this video clip or contact Adrian Chegwidden.

Acknowledgments

The Integrated Wood Processing project has received funding from the following government agencies and Verve Energy gratefully acknowledges their support.

Government of Western AustraliaAustralian Government

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