biofuel refinery!

zod

Plea to convert suger plant into

06/04/2005 - 6:15:09 PM

The Carlow sugar factory could be converted into a biofuels refinery to help cut carbon emissions and benefit the local economy, it was claimed today.

Green Party Deputy Leader Mary White is spearheading the campaign to turn the sugar processing plant into a biofuels refinery with a conference on the issue in Carlow in two weeks time.

Today biofuels researcher Bernard Rice, who is addressing the conference, said that the Carlow sugar processing plant could be used to refine sugar beet into ethanol.

Mr Rice said the early stages of production, such as the weighing, sampling and washing out of the sugar could all be done in the existing factory.

An extra unit would have to be built to ferment and distil the raw sugar solution into biofuel ethanol.

Mr Rice, a researcher for Teagasc, believes biofuels have a role to play in cutting fossil fuel consumption.

He said: “First of all they are more or less carbon neutral.

“During their growth they will absorb more or less the same amount of carbon dioxide they give out as fuel.

Mr Rice said that using biofuels would mean there was some sort of native fuel production, reducing Ireland’s reliance on oil from unstable countries.

He said that a 10% change of land use to growing biofuel materials could meet around 10% of the country’s energy needs.

“They could certainly play a role in meeting Kyoto commitments, though they won’t on their own solve the problem.

“But they do require Government intervention in the market to help them get off the ground,” Mr Rice said.

He also said that biofuels had the capacity to boost rural economies.

“One of the reasons we’re interested in biofuels is the fact that traditional farmers are all struggling, so farmers do need alternative outlets,” he said.

In addition to sugar beet, which could be used at the Carlow Sugar Refinery, vegetable oil, straw and woodchippings are among the materials which can be used as biofuels.

Mr Rice will be addressing the conference at the Seven Oaks Hotel, Carlow on April 20, where he will outline a number of possibilities for the use of biofuels in the region.

Other speakers at the meeting include Alan Banks, chief executive of Biofuel Plant Operators Losonoco, Peadar Jordan of the IFA Beet Committee and Carlow County Manager Joe Crockett.

Announcing the conference Ms White said: “I believe there is now a pressing need to attract a bio-refinery to Carlow to underpin a major part of the rural economy by supporting sustainable agriculture to feed a biofuel plant in the county.

“I also feel that the local manufacture of biofuels will allow Ireland to go a significant way towards meeting its EU quota requirement and in minimising imports.”

She said a bio-refinery would also support local industry and create sustainable jobs.

Capt'n Midnight

zod wrote:

He said that a 10% change of land use to growing biofuel materials could meet around 10% of the country’s energy needs.

:rolleyes: