Science Centres: Energy

Bioenergy: where to now?

Increasingly, liquid biofuels are being seen as a potential energy product from biomass to supplement traditional transport fuels. This has promoted much research into so-called ‘second generation’ conversion technologies. Scion, for example, is working with the Lake Taupo Development Company on the assessment of willow as a potential feedstock for ethanol production. Other second generation technologies include biotechnology and enzyme conversion methods.

NIWA, CRL Energy, Scion, GNS Science, and Industrial Research Ltd recently formed an energy research collaboration to more effectively assess the potential role of a range of renewable energy forms. This team is developing a common analytical framework that can evaluate the effect of bioenergy on New Zealand’s energy landscape, including how to best integrate bioenergy use with other energy resources.