Summary

Project BGreen is a biorefinery based on converting sugarcane juice to glycols and biomass to hydrogen. This project will produce a techno-economic feasibility study.

It will develop a design for a sugarcane factory and refinery that is self-sufficient in energy and is indeed carbon negative. Diversifying sugarcane processing away from crystal sugar both spreads financial risk for growers and industry but also offers the potential for greater industry income and regional economic power. By targeting emerging markets with long-term potential, this diversification should set up the sugarcane industry in the Burdekin for the generations to come.

Overall research is required to determine:

1. Can the MOSAIK™ monosaccharide process developed by Danish technology company, Haldor Topsoe, be applied to Australian sugarcane?
2. Can hydrogen be manufactured at scale from sugarcane biomass for use in the glycolisation reaction?
3. Is the system economically attractive and sustainable?

Expected outcomes

The project will de-risk future project investment by establishing a business case to support discussions with stakeholders including potential ESG investors. The work undertaken in Phase 1 is critical to enable strategic discussions with relevant decision-makers and stakeholders.

It will demonstrate the potential for resetting NQ’s sugar industry towards higher value green chemicals and will offer a pathway to transition the sugar industry from trade-restricted raw sugar. The strategic information and knowledge-building developed in this project will clarify the opportunities and challenges to be faced in regenerating the sector.

Phase 1 will provide the foundation for Burdekin Renewable Fuels to raise $10m to complete Phase 2 which is intended to take the circa $1bn project to the start of construction.