Past Projects
Discover how Bio Products Australia has successfully delivered carbon-neutral solutions that enhance agriculture and drive sustainable impact.
SORGHUM GROWING TRIALS (2019 – 2022)
Discover how Bio Products Australia (BPA), previously known as Hybrid Energy Australia (HEA), explored sorghum as a renewable biomass source through trials from 2019 to 2022. These trials aimed to identify high-yield sorghum varieties and optimize agronomic practices under various environmental conditions, including marginal and saline-affected soils. Key findings highlight sorghum’s potential for biomass production and land regeneration, though challenges like drought underscore the need for further research.
Click here to view the report Sorghum Trials (PDF)
PELLET TECHNOLOGY TRIALS (2020 – 2024)
Technology trials undertaken focused on the production of pellets for two purposes: use as a fuel and as a pre-treatment for pyrolysis.
FUEL-BASED PELLET PRODUCTION (2020 – 2021)
In 2020, trials in Germany tested the viability of Australian steam-exploded Sorghum pellets as a fuel source. Although promising, the high ash content posed challenges, leading to unsustainable wear on pellet dye machinery. In 2021, a second round of trials using Arundo Donax, known for its lower ash content, resulted in more sustainable pellets with reduced wear on the machinery, making Arundo Donax a better option for fuel-based pelletisation.
BIOMASS PELLETS FOR PYROLYSIS (2022 – 2024)
In 2022, pelletisation trials in Germany confirmed the suitability of European-grown Arundo Donax for pyrolysis, producing biochar and related products. Additional trials in Australia tested Australian and Chinese technologies using Australian-grown Sorghum, revealing that the Chinese technology was unsuitable due to poor pellet density. In contrast, Australian technology highlighted the need for optimised water content. By 2024, trials with Australian-grown cereal waste showed that, when properly processed, it could produce high-density pellets with favourable calorific properties, making it a viable biomass source for fuel pellets and pyrolysis pellets.
Click here to view the report Pellet Technology Trials (PDF)
ARUNDO DONAX (ADX) GROWING TRIALS (2021 – 2023)
The trials aimed to evaluate Arundo Donax as a superior biomass alternative to sorghum, focusing on its lower ash and water content and sustainable rhizome-based growth. In 2021, Bio Products Australia imported and tested Arundo Donax, finding it a promising option due to its advantages over sorghum. Propagation trials confirmed the need for micropropagation for commercial production. By early 2022, initial plantings were established, and growth monitoring in 2023 is set to assess yield potential and further validate Arundo Donax as a viable renewable energy source.
Click here to view the report ADX Trials (PDF)
TECH TRIALS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF BIOCHAR, PYROGENIC ACID, BIO-OILS AND SYNGAS BY PYROLYSIS (2021 – 2024)
The trials aimed to evaluate pyrolysis technology's effectiveness in producing biochar, pyroligneous acid, bio-oils, and syngas from various biomass sources. In 2021, a study identified pyrolysis as the most promising method, leading to selecting one Australian and one European technology for testing. In 2022, trials with different biomass feedstocks showed that EU-manufactured and AU-manufactured pellets performed well, with European technology yielding superior results. By 2024, further trials with cereal straw pellets continued, highlighting European technology’s potential for large-scale bioproduct production. The findings confirmed that European pyrolysis technology is highly effective, meeting European Biochar Certificate (EBC) standards, and emphasised the need for continued research into different biomass sources and process optimisation.
Click here to view the report Tech Trials (PDF)