| Welcome to our newest edition of the Wastes to Profits newsletter, where we release the beta version of the ADAdvisor tool publicly for feedback and open registration for the Anaerobic Digestion opportunities for Livestock Industries forum to be held on 23rd March 2022 in Brisbane.
We welcome your interest, involvement and feedback. Please make sure to visit the website, sign up to the newsletter and encourage your colleagues to do the same. If you need more information or want to become actively involved in the project, please do not hesitate to contact us. |
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The ADAdvisor tool aims to provide a user-friendly platform that enables industry to evaluate the potential feasibility of greenfield and brownfield co-digestion business projects, guiding the user through high level regulatory integration assessment, design rules or principles for selection and sizing of anaerobic digestion technologies, and technoeconomic evaluation of project concepts.
The beta-version of the anaerobic digestion assessment tool “ADAdvisor tool” has arrived and is ready for testing and feedback. Please check it out and let us know what you think!
A 2-minute survey is accessible at the end of the tool. Some questions we would like you to consider:
1) How did you find out about ADAdvisor;
2) What is your role in investigating the economics of anaerobic digestion;
3) How would you rate the ADAdvisor tool based on
- the design and ease of use;
- the range of options available in ADAdvisor;
- answering your anaerobic digestion economic questions;
4) What did you like about ADAdvisor;
5) How could we improve ADAdvisor?
Finally, if you would like to contact the development team regarding feedback, this option is available at the end of the survey.
The ADAdvisor tool is now available to review and provide feedback here https://adadvisor.info/
Disclaimer: The Anaerobic Digestion Advisor (ADAdvisor) tool assesses the initial economic feasibility of anaerobic digestion using waste from red meat processing, intensive livestock and waste water industries. Whilst we have prepared these results and the documentation in good faith, consulting widely, exercising all due care and attention, no representation or warranty, express or implied, is made as to the accuracy, completeness or fitness of the calculator and document in respect of any user’s circumstances. Users of the calculator and report should undertake their own quality controls, standards, safety procedures and seek appropriate expert advice where necessary in relation to their particular situation or equipment. Any representation, statement, opinion or advice, expressed or implied in this publication is made in good faith and on the basis that our partners, agents and employees are not liable (whether by reason of negligence, lack of care or otherwise) to any person for any damage or loss whatsoever which has occurred or may occur in relation to that person taking or not taking (as the case may be) action in respect of any representation, statement or advice referred to above. |
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| This forum will be a great opportunity to bring organisations and individuals together to discuss the possibilities of AD in the red meat, pork, dairy, poultry and other industries, which includes opportunities for co-digestion with other organic waste streams.
This forum aims to build knowledge and advance the development of Anaerobic Digestion (AD) in livestock industries. The forum program is in development and will include sessions on:
- Anaerobic Digestion Implementation & Lessons Learnt
- Opportunities for Co-Digestion
- Advancements in Anaerobic Digestion
- Improving commercial feasibility of Anaerobic Digestion projects
Anaerobic digestion provides opportunities to realise value from organic wastes through reducing waste management costs, reducing site energy costs and providing opportunities for new revenue streams. The Wastes to Profits project is developing technologies for improved management of organic wastes with a key focus on advanced anaerobic digestion as a platform for technology integration and value-chain innovation.
Advanced anaerobic digestion technologies are improving the economics by increasing biogas yields and reducing the size and cost of anaerobic digestion infrastructure. Strategies for advanced anaerobic digestion include pre-treatment of waste, co-digestion of multiple waste streams, optimisation of reactor conditions and process additives.
Registration is free, and we encourage you to attend in person.
Please register to attend via eventbrite here. |
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Engagement and Extension
In this section we highlight specific news, publications, events, engagement and collaboration activities of the Wastes to Profits collaborative. If there are specific meetings, events or sites that you would like to see the team present or attend – please contact us. |
Murdoch University Algae Pilot
It has been an exciting few months at Murdoch University in Western Australia. The Algae R&D Centre has recently commissioned 50 m2 ponds that will be used to for the remainder of the Wastes to Profits project. Optimising productivity at a larger scale is very important for improving the reliability of the commercial scale modelling, demonstrating multiple potential products using algae biomass and ultimately improve business case development for algae treatment of wastewater. |
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Circular Economy to achieve net zero
AMPC sponsored an event in Western Australia called “A circular economy approach to increase value in agri-food industries approaching net zero. The Wastes to Profits team presented the beta-version of the ADAdvisor tool to the multi-stakeholder event targeting public and private sector, agri-food industry, forestry and landcare sectors, fertilisers’ manufacturers, consultants, services providers, regulation agencies, researchers, local government, amongst others. |
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Best Presentation Award
Congratulations to Hajar Shayesteh who won the “Junior Applied Phycologist” Best Presentation award at the 7th Congress of the International Society of Applied Phycology (ISAP). Hajar is a PhD student in the Wastes to Profits team at Murdoch University that is investigating the benefits of a microalgae treatment of anaerobic digestion effluent. |
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ADAdvisor tool tutorial for partners
Prof Bernadette McCabe and team held a tutorial with the ADAdvisor tool for partners to work through the beta-version of the tool. The beta-version of the tool became more widely available to the project partners in July 2021 and they continue to provide important feedback during the final developments of the tool. We are excited to see the positive feedback and are encouraged by the suggestions for improvements so far. |
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IEA Bioenergy Task 37 – Energy from biogas reports
Task 37 is an international working group which covers the biological treatment of the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) as well as the anaerobic treatment of organic rich industrial waste water. Wastes to Profits investigator Professor Bernadette McCabe from the University of Southern Queensland (USQ) Centre for Agricultural Engineering is Australia’s National Team Leader for Task 37. Read more about Task 37 here.
Recently there have been two reports released that may be of interest to our newsletter audience: |
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Integration of Anaerobic Digestion into Farming Systems
This report of IEA Bioenergy Task 37 (Energy from biogas) assesses the role of biogas integrated into the farming system through examination of policy, practices and strategies in four very distinct countries with very different climatic conditions: Australia, Canada, Italy and the UK. Read it here. |
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Potential and utilisation of manure to generate biogas in seven countries
This report of IEA Bioenergy Task 37 (Energy from biogas) examines the potential of manure for utilization in biogas facilities across seven countries: Germany; Australia; Austria; Norway; Canada, Ireland and the UK. These countries have differing levels of biogas industry, different farming practices and a range of climates. Read it here. |
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Other potential events of interest
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2021 APSA Conference
15-18 November 2021, Sofitel Brisbane, Queensland
The purpose of the Australasian Pig Science Association is to provide a forum for excellence in science related to all aspects of the pig industry. APSA was established in 1987 to bring together people from a range of disciplines with a primary interest in pig science.
Register here. |
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Bioenergy Australia Webinar: IEA Bioenergy Task 37: The role of renewable gas in decarbonisation
23 November 2021, 8.00am – 10.00am AEST (Online)
Register for this interactive Bioenergy Australia live webinar where you will hear from some of the world’s leaders on the potential roles for green gases in decarbonising a range of sectors. The presentation also addresses major highlights of a survey within countries participating in IEA Bioenergy on the current status of biomethane frameworks and provides recommendations for a successful sector development.
Register here. |
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The Wastes to Profits Project Overview
The Wastes to Profits project aims to capture a potential market opportunity for the livestock sector in excess of AUD$100 million per year by converting wastes into valuable products.
The Wastes to Profits project brings together stakeholders from across Australia’s animal industries with technology, research and development providers. The project delivers advanced technologies to convert wastes from livestock production and municipal water treatment into fertilisers, feeds, chemicals, and energy products for use in agriculture. The overall aim of the project is to improve productivity and enhance profitability for primary producers.
The project focuses on the following 4 areas;
- Area 1: Assessing waste streams from the livestock sector, developing business models and pathways to adoption to promote commercial application of project outcomes;
- Area 2: Developing technologies for improved management of wastes with a key focus on anaerobic digestion as a platform for energy production from waste;
- Area 3: Developing technologies for the production of nutritionally-advanced feeds; and
- Area 4: Developing technologies for production of fertilisers, chemicals, plastics, and energy products.
We welcome your interest, involvement and feedback throughout this four year project from 2018 to 2021. Please make sure to visit the website, sign up to the newsletter and encourage your colleagues to do the same. If you need more information or want to become actively involved in the project, please do not hesitate to contact us. |
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Chair, Wastes to Profits Steering Committee
Doug McNicholl
Program Manager, Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA)
e: dmcnicholl@mla.com.au
p: 0439 275 794 |
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Chief Investigator, Wastes to Profits
Prof Ian O’Hara
Principal Research Fellow, Queensland University of Technology (QUT)
e: i.ohara@qut.edu.au
p: (07) 3138 1551 |
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Project Manager, Wastes to Profits
Lisa van den Berg
Queensland University of Technology (QUT)
e: lisa.vandenberg@qut.edu.au
p: (07) 3138 1415 |
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