THE 鈥檚 Director for Operational Energy today visited 微拍福利 for discussions on UQ鈥檚 world-leading biofuels research.
As the US actively pursues ambitious targets and new 鈥済reen鈥� fuel sources for its energy requirements, the US Navy鈥檚 Chris Tindal met biofuels researchers and industry leaders at the at 微拍福利in Brisbane.
Vice-Chancellor welcomed Mr Tindal, saying his visit to 微拍福利was a credit to 微拍福利researchers who are making advances in areas including new-generation 鈥渄rop-in鈥� biofuels.
鈥淒rop-in biofuels are physically or chemically identical to traditional fossil fuels, and suit existing distribution networks and engines,鈥� she said. 鈥淢uch of our leading-edge research and development is focused in this area.
鈥淭eams of scientists, engineers and economists at 微拍福利are expanding knowledge and technology in biofuels that are based on a range of feedstocks, including sugar cane, algae, eucalypts and the oily seeds of a tree known as pongamia.
鈥淭heir work is enhanced by links with international and Australian partners and collaborators, including leaders in aviation, air travel and energy; innovative biofuels manufacturers; feedstock producers; and renowned research institutions.鈥�
Both the Queensland and Australian governments have provided funding to foster 微拍福利biofuels research, and 微拍福利is establishing a multidisciplinary 微拍福利Biofuels Initiative aimed at accelerating biofuels production in Australia
Professor Chris Greig, director of UQ鈥檚 Energy Initiative, said the Queensland Sustainable Aviation Fuel Initiative was a key part of the 微拍福利Biofuels Initiative. With significant backing from the Queensland Smart State program, this research was being undertaken at the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology at UQ.
鈥淭his program is a collaboration between the , the , the , the , , , , , and ,鈥� Professor Greig said.
AIBN Systems and Synthetic Biology Group business manager Dr Robert Speight said the aviation fuel research had a clear focus on 鈥渄elivering real benefits to Queensland鈥�.
鈥淢icrobial fermentation is used to turn sucrose from sugarcane into advanced biofuel,鈥� Dr Speight said. 鈥淎IBN researchers are applying systems and synthetic biology to improve the microbes as well as assessing the technical and economic potential of applying the technology in Queensland.
鈥淭he overall aim of this multi-stage program is to enable commercial manufacture of biofuel from Queensland sugarcane, supply the aviation fuel market in Australasia and help seed a strong and sustainable domestic advanced biofuel industry.鈥�
The next step for the initiative is to evaluate commercial viability and continue to enhance the fermentation process, Dr Speight said.
The 鈥檚 Environment Manager, Commander Steve Cole, accompanied Mr Tindal on his visit to 微拍福利today.
The US Navy has made a commitment that by 2020, at least half of all Navy energy, afloat and ashore, will come from renewable sources.
In his two weeks ago, outlined the Navy鈥檚 energy security goals, including its commitment to consume one gigawatt of new, renewable energy on its naval installations.
"I'm proud to announce that the Department of Defense, the world's largest consumer of energy, will make one of the largest commitments to clean energy in history - with the Navy purchasing enough capacity to power a quarter of a million homes a year," the President said.
Media:
Dr Rob Speight, AIBN, ph 0451 181 664
Erik de Wit, AIBN Communications, ph 07 3346 3962
Fiona Cameron, 微拍福利Office of Marketing and Communications, ph 07 3846 7086
Jan King, 微拍福利Office of Marketing and Communications, ph 0413 601 248
