Invasive weeds such as prickly acacia could soon be turned into renewable fuel source

You can turn grains and even sugarcane trash into energy, and now there are plans to convert some of Queensland's worst weeds into a new renewable fuel source.

Key points: Invasive weeds could be turned into renewable fuel through the emerging biomass industry; A biomass manufacturer plans to set up three sites across Queensland to produce the alternative fuel source; Prickly acacia is one plant that could be used; 

An Australian biomass manufacturer is working on a plan to convert problematic weeds, such as mesquite and prickly acacia, into fuel.

"Biomass is essentially any plant-based material," said Philip Jarratt, the managing director of SEFAAS Proprietary Limited, the company behind the proposed work.

"It can be sugar cane, it can be wheat straw, or it can be forestry waste and residues, or any other type [of] plant material."

Mr Jarratt said the material was then converted into pellets, which could be transformed into renewable fuel.

"A pellet is then blended with coal or used as a 100 per cent substitute to coal," he said.

He said the manufacturer was currently looking at establishing three production sites — in Brisbane, Townsville and Gladstone — with the use of weeds being of particular interest at the Townsville site.

"The invasive weed is a particular feedstock interest for us for the Townsville region at this point in time," Mr Jarratt said.

He said there was especially strong interest in mesquite and prickly acacia.

"There's been a lot of talk about prickly acacia," he said.

AgForce Queensland senior policy officer Marie Vitelli said prickly acacia was an ongoing issue for the agricultural industry, particularly in the north west.

"Prickly acacia is a major curse up in far north-west Queensland and it has also moved down towards the Gulf catchments," Ms Vitelli said.

"It's very difficult to manage, especially when it becomes thickened in areas."

Mr Jarratt said he did not anticipate that removing areas of the weed for the purposes of biomass manufacturing would solve the problem for farmers.

However, he said he hoped the work could have some benefits.

"So we're not suggesting at any point that we're the silver bullet or the sole solution; [we're] just happy to be part of the solution," Mr Jarratt said.

"In our way, we focus on what we do and how we'll utilise the [prickly acacia].

"If that allows us to remove some of that infestation from landowners [and] cattle farmers in a way that allows them to regain the productive use of that land, then I think that's a good outcome for the landowner and the resource, and [it's] a viable product for us."

Ms Vitelli said the idea of finding alternative uses for invasive weeds was not a new one, but logistical issues had always gotten in the way.

"Some of this work has been looked at before," she said.

"The main thing is the logistics of processing and where that can be done, and transport costs to where it would be exported or used.

"And that's always been an impediment."

However, she said the work was promising.

"We're seeing a lot of money going into renewable energy, and that would solve a large problem if it's feasible," she said.

"I think many of our western graziers would really welcome prickly acacia becoming a renewable energy resource."