The residents of the Australian state of Queensland will soon be using electricity generated from tonnes of waste macadamia shells under a project touted as a world-first: a macadamia nut-powered plant.
The construction of the A$3 million (US$1.98 million) power plant is due to be completed in August. Work on a massive 350-tonne macadamia nut silo, measuring 18m high and 10m wide, has already been completed.
The ground-breaking, 20-year project will generate 'green electricity' and reduce greenhouse gases by 9500 tonnes annually - equivalent to taking more than 2000 cars off the road every year.
Leading "green power" company Ergon Energy and one of the world's largest macadamia processors, Suncoast Gold Macadamias (SGM), will turn initially about 5000 tonnes of waste macadamia shells into enough electricity to power around 1200 Queensland homes every year. SGM is a major player in the global, macadamia market with exports to more than 20 countries including Japan, Europe and the United States. Macadamias are Australia's largest native agricultural crop.
"Energy efficiency and environmentally sensitive processes are key strategies for our company and we are proud to be part of a mutually beneficial solution towards a greener environment," said Suncoast Gold Macadamias CEO Jim Twentyman.
Energy Minister Paul Lucas said: "This is a smart approach to green energy, and I'm delighted to see a traditional Queensland primary industry being innovative and diversifying at the same time."
