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Figure 4.5(b)<br />

Energy balance <strong>of</strong> conversion <strong>of</strong> biomass using fast pyrolysis.<br />

4.4 Mallee Products, Markets and Value.<br />

Whilst a wide range <strong>of</strong> products can be derived from Oil Mallee trees, the market availability for the<br />

products will be the most significant issue. Key issues to be determined relating to an initial<br />

assessment <strong>of</strong> these products includes:<br />

• Current Australian or if relevant worldwide production <strong>of</strong> the product;<br />

• Estimated current ex-factory price for the product;<br />

• Potential production from a full scale potential Western Australian or Australian industry;<br />

• An estimate <strong>of</strong> the ex-factory value <strong>of</strong> the price <strong>of</strong> the product if the nominated potential<br />

production was achieved.<br />

Current Production: Australian or Worldwide production <strong>of</strong> the range <strong>of</strong> products is estimated as a<br />

pre-cursor to what impact a significant Industry would have on the domestic and international supply<br />

chains.<br />

Current Price: The estimated current ex-factory price for the product based on a limited search and<br />

known data. For example, the current price paid for Mallee Oil as a boutique product is in the order <strong>of</strong><br />

$10/kg, however Australian production is 150t/year and total world production is approximately<br />

4,000t/year. The price <strong>of</strong> other potential products can be derived from known data.<br />

Potential for Increased Production: The adoption <strong>of</strong> Mallee in the WA wheat belt as portrayed in<br />

section 1.3.1 would result in about 8 million tonnes fresh weight <strong>of</strong> whole tree product per year. This<br />

is a significant resource, although <strong>of</strong> modest value against the typical annual West Australian wheat<br />

harvest <strong>of</strong> over 4M tonnes. This could potentially produce about 80,000 tonnes <strong>of</strong> oil annually in<br />

Western Australia alone.<br />

110

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