The Weekly Advertiser – Wednesday, June 23, 2021

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Vol. No. Vol. 2318No. 50 27

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Wednesday, January 13, 2021 2016 Wednesday, June 23,

WET AND WONDERFUL: Horsham toddler Riley Clyne, 2, enjoys a splash in a large puddle after heavy rain. Picture: PAUL CARRACHER

Bioenergy progress A

BY DEAN LAWSON

multi-million-dollar Ararat bioenergy project is set to shift from a desktop concept into an engineering scoping phase. Confirmation of raw-product availability sourced from regional farmland means Grampians Gas power plant can move from assessment to stageone development. Pacific Heat and Power managing director Dr Scott Grierson, who will lead community question-and-answer sessions at Stawell, Tatyoon and Lake Bolac tomorrow, said the shift represented an important milestone.

“The initial investigation into the provision of product, based on offers and expressions of interest, has indicated we have enough volume to proceed with stage one of the project,” he said. “We will be moving from the desktop assessment to the on-ground engagement with suppliers. “It gives investors and backers confidence that this is a real opportunity and opens the door for detailed engineering studies.” Pacific Heat and Power has joined Ararat Rural City Council to develop the concept for a Grampians Gas plant that would use district straw and

stubble to create energy. The project, with an estimated investment value of $200-million, involves transforming the agricultural waste, that might otherwise be subject to paddock burning, into one or multiple renewable power sources. The potential is to generate reliable base-load power, heat and renewable gas, as well as biochar. Dr Grierson said the project was entering an important period and through a partnership with global industrial engineering company Worley a focus would turn to ‘more concrete conceptual designs and studies’. “It’s about moving from a high-level

idea to a discreet engineering phase of work such as plant location, how it will work and technology platforms – the first manifestations of what it’s going to look like,” he said. Dr Grierson said an initial expression-of-interest process to determine the availability of straw and stubble had identified an early pledge of 135,000 tonnes a year, enough to push towards a 150,000-tonne first stage. “We have an ultimate aim of accessing 300,000 tonnes, but that will come later,” he said. “Pledges that have come forward have met initial demand and while we’re drawing a line under it for now

to allow the first stage of engineering, there will be another formal request for stock and expressions of interest before the end of 2021. “We have pledges from a 100-kilometre catchment and we’ve had interest from across the Wimmera. “It shows how much hunger there is for the project.” The Ararat council is strongly supporting the project and its potential for behind-the-meter opportunities, where electricity and heat generated on site could also be used to support adjoining industry. Continued page 3

IN • Crisis accommodation • Quantong residents strong • Football-netball action INTHIS THISISSUE ISSUE • Rural ratepayersplan to protest • ‘The Finalstand Push’ • Volleyball grand finals artisanHP1006

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