A CRDC Small Capacity Building Project Grant was successfully applied for to conduct a feasibility study into utilising a biomass burner at the Tandou Gin to off-set the increasing costs of LPG used in the ginning process.

Mr John Allison, a consulting engineer was retained to conduct a site inspection of Tandou Gin to determine the current energy requirements and to determine how a biomass burner might be utilised to reduce LPG usage. Mr Allison had successfully installed and commissioned 2 biomass burners at olive oil processing sites in Northern Victoria effectively negating the use of LPG at these sites.

Potential on-farm fuels were identified and assessed. Cotton gin trash, upland cotton seed, pima cotton seed and cotton stalks were all assessed with gin trash being identified as the most suitable fuel based on costs, quantity, locality, calorific value and ash content.

It was determined that there was a surplus of gin trash created on site to supply the heating requirements of the gin up to 700 C. The design concept was that the biomass burner would supply base heating requirements up to this figure at which time the existing LPG burners would cut in if required.

An assessment of different types of heat generating equipment was conducted that included ow pressure boiler

The consultant determined that hot air generators would be the simplest most cost effective installation to meet the gins requirements. The consultant determined that the installation and commissioning of 2 x 500KW hot air generators would cost in the vicinity of $320K