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Meridian Energy, Massey investigate
biodiesel option
Animal tallow – a by-product of New Zealand’s
meat processing industry - may power earthmoving machinery used in the
construction of Meridian Energy’s massive Project Aqua on the lower
Waitaki River.
Meridian is working with a Massey University team led by Masters student
Andy Smith to develop an environmentally friendly fuel to power the bulldozers,
scrapers and diggers used in the construction of the hydro project.
Mr Smith is aiming to build on the experience gained when he manufactured
biodiesel from canola oil to power a VW Golf in the 2002 Energy Wise Rally
of New Zealand.
Based in Meridian’s Christchurch office on an Enterprise Scholarship,
he is scoping the development of a refinery that would convert animal
tallow into biodiesel. He believes this would be the country’s first
biodiesel plant and the first in the world to use animal tallow as the
base product.
“ We know how to make biodiesel. Animal tallow is a readily available
waste product in New Zealand and there are many meat processing plants
in the South Island.”
Mr Smith estimates 55 million litres of fuel will be needed to power the
machinery that will build the scheme. He is working on identifying sources
of tallow for the biodiesel, its cost, and developing plans to build a
refinery that will be able to be used to produce biodiesel for other purposes
once the construction of Project Aqua has been completed. The biodiesel
will be greenhouse gas- free and could be blended with ordinary diesel
in any proportion or used on its own.
Project Aqua envisages the construction of six power stations along a
60 kilometre canal on the south bank of the lower Waitaki River. It would
produce 524 megawatts of renewable energy, or enough to power 400,000
households. Building the canals and the hydro-stations will involve a
direct workforce of up to 700 people and many earthmoving machines, such
as graders, trucks, bulldozers and diggers.
Meridian Operations Manager George Ritchie says the company is committed
to renewable energy and exploring low-impact technologies for construction
of Aqua and other projects.
“Powering the construction with renewable fuel is one way to achieve
that. Producing biodiesel commercially is the challenge and Andy already
has a track record in biodiesel research and application. We feel the
potential benefits of commercial biodiesel warrant a closer look.”
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