New Zealand Herald feature writer Chris Barton looks at the scientific efforts underway in New Zealand to yield biofuel from forestry – and the barriers to expansion of this clean technology development.
An excerpt:
Scion studies have shown those forests could be a huge, sustainable source of feedstock, especially if waste from trimmings, cutting and processing was used. However all the currently available biomass residues combined would meet only 10 per cent or so of New Zealand’s liquid fuel demand. To meet 60 per cent of demand, Scion research shows another 1.8 million ha would have to be planted – feasible if planting was on marginal hill country.