¶ RENERGI’S $10.4 million Collie Resource Recovery Centre is in the “final stages of commissioning” and could be operational by the end of the year.
The company advised that the centre’s pyrolysis plant is being run for increasing lengths of time during commissioning, producing a “superior quality small-particle biochar, pyroligneous acid (wood vinegar) and bio-oil”.
Feedstocks derived from forestry waste and plantation and agricultural residues will be used to produce soil conditioners and plant biostimulants.
Renergi will soon “significantly ramp up supply availability” as it seeks to service the agriculture and horticulture industries.
Renergi business development manager Deejay Parker said biochar can be harnessed to improve long-term soil health and fertility.
“Good quality biochars hold water up to three times of their weight, improving soil water-holding capacity and, therefore, being particularly beneficial for drier areas,” Mr Parker said. “And there’s limited chance of waterlogging due to its special structure.”
Wood vinegar improves plant health at different stages of growth and is an “eco-friendly alternative to synthetic growth regulators”, Mr Parker added.
“It’s proven to be an excellent seed germinator, and it also improves plant resilience and growth, acting as a natural pest and disease deterrent,” he said.
“We are already seeing some great results with furrow application.”
Construction of the plant was completed in April 2023, however commissioning has been a long and complex process.
The project has received State and Federal government funding, including an Australian Renewable Energy Agency grant of $4.3 million.