Ararat to host Bioenergy Conference

The aim of the forum is to provide local government businesses, community groups and others interested with information on how they can reduce their energy costs and environmental impact, while also learning more about how bioenergy benefits everyone.

World Bioenergy Association vice president, Andrew Lang said more and more industries, commerce and institutions are beginning to convert to using biomass as a cheaper heat source over natural gas or LPG.

“Other businesses are also saving on disposal costs of certain organic wastes by production of energy from these using mature technologies,” he said.

“People attending the Bioenergy Forum in Ararat can hear about real cases of this at smaller and larger scale and on the bus tour they can see how this is working at a milk processor, a sawmill and a local hospital.”

Day one of the forum at Alexandra Oval Community Centre will see an array of expert guest speakers discussing topics including designing and building larger scale bioenergy systems in Victoria, on-farm biofuel production and biomass briquetting experience, and financing a community bioenergy project.

That night a delicious three-course dinner, featuring the best of Ararat's locally grown produce, will also be held at Alexandra Oval Community Centre. The evening will provide a great opportunity for networking amongst Australia’s bioenergy luminaries, regional leaders and other renewable energy advocates.

On the second day of the forum, participants will have the option of either a half-day ‘hands-on’ workshop on using their own energy data to produce bioenergy options for their particular energy needs, or they may choose to go on a bus tour of local bioenergy sites.

Departing from and returning to Ararat, the full-day bus tour will visit a number of sites in the region including Beaufort Hospital, Pyrenees Timber and KCC Recycling.

Mr Lang encouraged as many people to take advantage of what is to be a highly beneficial forum in the region.

“At the Ararat Bioenergy Conference on September 11 people can hear about real examples of their use and learn how these mature technologies can benefit them, followed up with a tour the following day to see some of these systems in action,” he said.

Cost for day one of the forum is $150.00 (50% discount for students) and $70.00 for dinner. Day two’s tour is $90.00 or $60.00 for the half-day workshop option.

To register for the forum, workshop and tour visit www.trybooking.com/299432. Dinner registrations can be made at www.trybooking.com/299434.

This event is proudly sponsored by Ararat Rural City, Cultivate Agribusiness, Pyrenees Shire, Grampians Central Waste, Victorian Government, Victorian Bioenergy Network and Sustainability Victoria.