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Sugar power helping to fill Queensland’s heated up electricity demand

01 February 2022

Sugar powered electricity generated at two of Queensland raw sugar mills is being used to help fill the energy deficit caused by record high temperatures and the associated surging power demand across the State.

The renewable electricity from the cogeneration facilities located at Wilmar’s Pioneer Mill near Ayr and Mackay Sugar’s Racecourse Mill is generated using the left over plant fibre (bagasse) from crushing sugarcane to produce raw sugar.

The Australian Sugar Milling Council (ASMC) said the power plants would jointly supply a total of 55MW into the electricity grid while the high demand continues today and tomorrow.

“These plants typically operate during the annual crushing season between June and November, but have the potential to be a year-round suppliers of clean, green abundant sugar power providing Government policy settings are right,” said David Rynne of the ASMC.

“With greater government support, the potential of biopower plants co-located at sugar mills could be maximised to help the Queensland government to achieve its 50 per cent renewable energy target by 2030 and help at times of record demand or supply constraints that followed the Callide C outage in May last year,” he said.

“Cogeneration plants at sugar mills can accelerate Queensland’s energy transition, enhance energy security, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and stimulate regional development.”

“We could more than triple our current cogeneration output to 3.4 million MWh each year to help cover coal-fired power station retirements and meet the projected increase in the state’s power consumption.”

“The Queensland sugar industry could meet half of the State’s renewable supply gap under the right commercial and policy settings.”

-ENDS-

Click here for a pdf of this media release

Further information:         

David Rynne, Director, Economics and Trade, 0431 729 509

Background

Australian Sugar Milling Council

The Australian Sugar Milling Council is a voluntary organisation, established in 1987 to represent Australian raw sugar mill owners. The Milling Council is the peak policy forum for mill owners and has as its mission to be an influential voice for change in the Australian sugar industry through leadership and policy advocacy.

The Milling Council works with its members, other industry organisations and government to develop and promote policies that enhance the commercial development of the sugar industry in Australia.