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Products
The utilisation of biomass for the production of renewable energy is achieved by refining raw biomass and other waste products into densified fuels and then burning these fuels to produce heat that in turn powers a generator to produce electricity. Various saleable products can be produced throughout this process including densified fuel pellets (used for industrial and domestic heating, as well as for spill absorbents), electricity, thermal energy and Renewable Energy Certificates (REC's).
ARL’s key products include:
Densified Fuel Pellets
Densified fuel pellets are a sophisticated form of packaged energy with a low moisture content of between eight and ten percent. Pellets typically have an energy density of 11 GJ/m3, which is four times more than traditional wood fuels such as fire wood, wood chips or saw dust. This high density allows for the pellets to be stored and transported more cost effectively than other forms of wood based fuels and results in lower levels of ash and higher temperatures when they are combusted to produce energy.
As a result of these unique properties, densified fuel pellets are becoming the product of choice for a range of biomass based renewable energy applications ranging from home heating to the generation if electricity.
Spill Absorbents
Dried biomass that has been refined to a fine dust has greatly enhanced absorbency properties due to the increased surface area of the particles. High absorbency combined with a clean, colour free product is the perfect material for spill absorbing applications ranging from thoroughbred animal bedding through to industrial spill solutions. Altus currently supplies wood absorbent pellets to the race horse industry in Queensland and plans to expand by introducing this product throughout Australia and Asia. This product is currently widely used in the United States and the United Kingdom due to its ease of handling, high absorbency, low dust content and reduced waste management requirements.
Renewable Energy
Renewable energy can be defined as an energy resource that is replaced rapidly by natural processes. The adoption of renewable energy solutions is quickly becoming an effective means of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by offsetting the demand for energy produced from fossil based fuels. Australia and other governments and organisations around the world have been actively promoting and supporting the development of new renewable energy capacity. Subsequently, biomass derived renewable energy will play a significant role in
meeting this capacity demand and Altus’ business strategy is structured to capitalise on this opportunity.
Altus is actively pursuing renewable energy generation project opportunities through the establishment of standalone biomass power generating facilities or through the vertical integration of the densified fuel pellet business by building power generating units adjoining existing and future pellet manufacturing plants. The Company proposes to build its first facility at the Hyne mill.
Renewable Energy Certificates (REC’s)
Under the Renewable Energy (Electricity) Bill 2000, electricity generated from sawmill residue that has been sourced from sustainably managed forests is eligible to receive RECs. RECs are the instrument that is traded within the Federal Governments Mandatory Renewable Energy Target (MRET) scheme. Within the scheme each REC represents the equivalent of 1 MWh of electricity generation from an eligible renewable energy source and is currently valued between $25 and $40 per REC. Altus’ renewable energy generation projects will be designed to comply with the requirements of the Office of the Renewable Energy Regulator allowing the facilities to generate 1 REC for every MWh of electricity generated. These certificates will then be traded on the Australian REC Registry.