About the Bioenergy Association of New Zealand (BANZ)

The Association

Who are BANZ?

The Bioenergy Association of New Zealand (BANZ) has been established to promote and coordinate the development of a bioenergy industry in New Zealand. The Association provides a central focus point for liaison with Government agencies, the dissemination of information amongst the industry and long-term positioning of bioenergy into New Zealand's energy system.

Members include anyone with a commercial interest in bioenergy - sawmillers, wood processors, energy suppliers, energy researchers, consultants, manufacturers and investors.

Mission and Vision

What is BANZ trying to achieve?

The mission of BANZ is to:

  • Encourage the utilisation of New Zealand's abundant biomass resources and provide renewable energy in the form of heat, power and transport fuels in a sustainable and cost effective manner.
  • Promote to the wider community the environmental benefits of Bioenergy including greenhouse gas mitigation and waste avoidance.
  • To facilitate implementation of commercial bioenergy projects

The BANZ Strategy vision is for 25% of NZ energy supply from bioenergy by 2040.

Objectives

What are the BANZ objectives?

The major objectives of BANZ are to:

  • Assist industry participants to realise commercial opportunities based on the wide range of biomass resources, particularly woody biomass in the first instance.
  • Assist Government to develop policies supportive of bioenergy projects and the development of export business opportunities.
  • Advocate policy issues to local, regional and central government, as well as to regulatory bodies, industry groups and other interested organisations to promote the benefits of bioenergy.
  • Promote the recognition of biomass as a sustainable energy resource.
  • Encourage and support research activities related to bioenergy technologies, biomass utilisation and the collation of industry data and industry statistics.
  • Identify, evaluate and, where appropriate, promote the development of markets for liquid and gaseous biomass fuels for the transport sector.
  • Encourage further uptake of waste-to-energy processes, in particular the use of landfill gases, municipal green waste, and dairy farm waste.
  • Promote the economic, environmental and social benefits of biomass use (including employment opportunities particularly in rural communities).

BANZ Action Plan

How will BANZ achieve the objectives?

The Association will:

  • Produce an Action Plan that ensures that the Association is financially well supported and able to fulfill its objectives.
  • Ensure that all participants in the industry are encouraged to be members, and the Association is highly respected, through the quality and quantity of its activities.
  • Nurture the bioenergy industry and the companies that work in it by supporting members to develop their business by providing information and other appropriate assistance.
  • Organise seminars, conferences and other promotional and educational events in order to disseminate information relating to biomass use.
  • Provide a forum for members to discuss bioenergy projects and to co-ordinate where appropriate.
  • Liaise and collaborate with similar international agencies and organisations.

You can download a copy of the BANZ Action Plan in PDF format here.

Management

Members of BANZ management

Board

Rob Mallinson, Living Energy (BANZ - Chair)
Andy Matheson, Solid Energy
Christian Jirkowsky, Polytechnik Biomass Energy
David McGregor, Brightwater (representing Wood Fuel Interest Group)
Eduard Ebbinge, Spark Energy (representing Wood Pellets Interest Group)
Grant Smith, Energy for Industry
Jason Cordes, EROS Capital
Jurgen Thiele, CPG
Keith Jones, Unitec, University of Auckland (representing Biogas Interest Group)
Kevin Snowdon, Vertichem Technologies (representing Liquid Biofuels Interest Group)
Markus Benter-Lynch, MWH
Phillip Gedye, RCR Energy
Ralph E Sims, Centre for Energy Research, Massey University
Shusheng Pang, Canterbury University
Simon Coughlan
Trevor Stuthridge, Scion

Banz Board Meetings

2pm - Thursday, 1st March
2pm - Tuesday, 1st May
2pm - Monday, 2nd July
2pm - Monday, 3rd September
August/September AGM
2pm - Thursday, 1st November

Sub Committees

Rob Mallinson (Convener - Policy Sub Committee)
Brian Cox (Convener - Research and Information Sub Committee)

Administration

Brian Cox (Executive Officer & Treasurer, Newsletter Editor, Interest Groups Administrator, Promotions & Advertising Manager, Membership Manager)
Anne Phiri (Memberships, Accounts & Website Administrator)

Technical Discussion Fora - BANZ Interest Groups

BANZ has four special topic Interest Groups to help focus the interests and activities of our various Members. The Groups are open to any BANZ member and are structured around a Committee who lead on any aspect of the topic. If you want to be active in the Interest Group you should join the committee by contacting BANZ staff. Committees meet by teleconference every two months.

Biogas Interest Group

The Biogas Interest Group lists New Zealand's leading players in the biogas sector including industry technology providers, consultants and researchers.  The Group focuses on the dissemination of information on biogas demonstration projects, sharing information and knowledge about advances in biogas technology and use, and works co-operatively to progress issues such as biogas design and construction standards in large and small scale applications.  Several members are active internationally and are leading their field in the development of innovative biogas technology and solutions.

Liquid Biofuels Interest Group

The Liquid Biofuels Group consists of New Zealand’s leading producers and retailers of liquid biofuels and biofuels researchers.  This group works collaboratively in order to promote the use of biofuels in New Zealand.  Working together they support the development of our capability to ensure that New Zealander’s have increasing access to a cleaner, greener fuel source.  While their focus presently is on stabilising the market and growing the use of conventional biofuels based on vegetable and used cooking oils, this group is paving the way to a future that will see advanced biofuels based on wood and organic waste become the norm in New Zealand and indeed across the world. The group keeps a close eye on international developments in particular the growing interest from the aviation sector in bio-based fuels.   A number of members lead their field internationally with innovative ways of producing biofuels while reducing pollution.

Wood Fuel Interest Group

The Wood Fuel Interest Group lists New Zealand’s leading providers of wood fuel and suppliers of heat plant technologies of all scales and sizes.  Together this group works to promote the use of woody biomass (that would otherwise be disposed of as waste) in modern, clean burning and efficient boilers for heat or co generation applications.  A number of small, medium and large scale heat users are appreciating the merits and convenience of wood fuel as they look to a cleaner more sustainable fuel for heat provision. Applications are typically in the commercial / industrial sector.  The group also focuses on the development of sector resources and materials promoting quality wood fuel standards.

Wood Pellets Interest Group

The Wood Pellet Interest Group consists of New Zealand’s leading producers of wood pellets and suppliers of pellet fuelled appliances.  Pellets have been separated from wood fuel because to some extent their markets are slightly different.  New Zealand has a growing residential pellet market with a wide range of pellets fires now available to the householder.  Equally pellets are also of interest in the commercial / industrial sector identified as a high quality wood fuel.  New Zealand producers also export to European markets.  This group works cooperatively to promote the wider benefits of pellets as a high quality, clean, green heating solution in particular to ensure the production and availability of pellet fuel across the sector.  The Group is focusing on the promotion of pellets in the heat market and in the accreditation of pellet producers.

BANZ activities are organised around its Interest Groups. Please contact us if you wish to join any of these groups.

Constitution

The Association was formed with assistance from the following founding organisations:

You can download a copy of the constitution in PDF format here.

BANZ Submissions