Biogas Fuel from a Closed-Loop Nitrogen Supply Cropping System

Final Report March 2014, MPI Technical Paper No: 2014/10, Prepared for the Ministry for Primary Industries by Huub Kerckhoffs, New Zealand Institute for Plant & Food Research Ltd (PFR); Bioenergy Cropping Solutions Ltd (BCS); Stephen Trolove, New Zealand Institute for Plant & Food Research Ltd (PFR); Stephan Heubeck (National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research Ltd (NIWA); & Rocky Renquist (New Zealand Institute for Plant & Food Research Ltd (PFR), Bioenergy Cropping Solutions Ltd (BCS);

This final report covers the “Novel biomass production for sustainable biofuel using new crop cultivars and legumes in a closed-loop nitrogen supply cropping system for use on marginal land” (C11X0901) programme. This programme was a three-year programme (June 2009 - July 2012). It was part of the Sustainable Land Management Mitigation & Adaptation to Climate Change 2008/09 (SLMACC-2nd round) investment- scheme of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MAF, now MPI), contracted to the New Zealand Institute for Plant & Food Research Limited (PFR).

The programme explored the opportunity to greatly reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the use of fossil fuels by farm equipment and rural trucking by substitution with biofuel. Biofuel production on that scale requires purpose-grown energy crops. Our research has designed a novel energy crop production system that also reduces GHG emissions (from the manufacture of N fertiliser) by virtue of its ‘closed loop N supply’ feature. The system is for use on marginal land, where these energy crops will not compete with food production.