Energy farming close for S.I.

Press, 21 August 1979, Page 20

Energy farming close for S.I.

By

CEDRIC MENTIPLAY

South Island farmers will be farming for energy before the end of the year, if predictions made by members of the Energy Research and Development Committee are accurate. The plan is for the central and southern South Island to use its own resources to grow special strains of beet to produce biomass. This would then be processed with the use of the South Island’s abundant electric power to produce ethanol for use either as a petroleum additive or as a base fuel.

One source envisages a large plant, to cost initially about S23M, with “almost infinite” expansion, sited somewhere in Mid-Canter-bury, with ample road access to farming areas and to - a major port.” The Minister of Energy . (Mr Birch) is convinced that [ New Zealand needs this type . of development as much as . any other that would pro- , duce motor spirit. He has ‘ been particularly impressed . with the research work done at Lincoln College, using fodder beet as a basis for the [ production of ethanol. The Government will not move until it receives the Energy Research and Development Committee’s report, which will be presented near the end of this month. Tenders will then be called i for production, and plantings iwill follow as quickly as ; possible.

, It is thought that farmers prepared to offer their land and services to the project will be offered “sufficient inducement to make the return comparable with that enjoyed by any crop-growing.”

There is a relationship between this project and the area frequently spoken of as suitable for a sugar-beet industry. One sugar-beet protagonist of long standing [commented: “Self-sufficiency [ has to be our objective now. We have demonstrated our ability to produce sugar from beet more cheaply than we can import it from Fiji or Queensland, but the Government seems to regard the importation of sugar from Fiji as some sort of welfare operation. “Sugar is energy. Fiji will soon be busy turning its sugar into alcohol and ethanol. It is high time we thought of what the South Island can do, and started producing our own sugar and our own ethanol. According

Jo Messrs Birch and Talboyw, I the reduction of our expendi|ture overseas is the name qf the game — and this is rhe South Island's best way to self-sufficiency."

Speed is being urged because the crops should be ready by the time the plant is ready for production. Some sources predict a two-year delay before plant can be produced on the spot, but there are some short-cuts [ which could mean partial production earlier. It is believed that the Energy Research and Development Committee lias placed the South Island biomass project ahead of the establishment of a Southland factory to produce fuel from lignite coal by the FischerTropsch process. An authority confirmed “the German method is effective and wellproven, but the costs are immense, and the fuel produced will be expensive.” It is still something for the future.