18 October 2018

Gunnedah Shire Council has agreed to enter a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Chinese company Tongyu Heavy Industry to research the potential of establishing a cogeneration power station in the region that will use cotton plant, post-harvest, for bio energy, and coal for high efficiency and low emissions power generation.

Gunnedah Shire Mayor Jamie Chaffey said there was an opportunity for bio-energy to be developed in the area due to Gunnedah’s “unique location”.

“Gunnedah Shire is already recognised as an energy hub and is surrounded by cotton farms and other crops that have agricultural waste at the end of the picking and harvesting season,” Cr Chaffey said.

“Researchers have begun to investigate if current technology and equipment is able to harvest the cotton plant, windrow it into bales and discover the tonnage needed for it to be viable as an energy source.”

Councillors resolved to approve the signing of the non-binding MoU at the October Ordinary Council Meeting, which would indicate the intention for Gunnedah Shire Council and Tongyu to do further exploration into the projects.

Cr Chaffey said Tongyu is recognised as a quality business that does a lot of work in the future of new energy operations.

“It would be a huge opportunity for Gunnedah Shire to be at the forefront of this technology and to enhance the economic, agricultural and energy future of the region.

The MoU comes at an opportune time as we prepare for the inaugural Energy, Innovation and Mining Expo at the Gunnedah Showground beginning on the 1 November,” he said.

Photo: Cotton plant, post-harvest, will be explored for bio energy.

ENDS

Media Contact: Brooke Maisey 6740 2100.