When James and Richard Egerton left their city jobs and returned to their parents' sheep and cattle station outside Barcaldine in central-west Queensland a few years ago, starting a new business was not on their radar."We moved out here with the sole aim of helping mum and dad get the infrastructure tidied up. That way, [it] put them in a good position that if they wanted to leave the property, they had the opportunity to.
It is then packed into the kiln where it's baked at temperatures above 500 degrees Celsius for anywhere between 12 and 18 hours.Once cooled, the charcoal is graded – with premium grade going into bags for the barbecue market and any smaller pieces turned into biochar for stock feed, horticulture or their latest venture — charcoal soap.Even vinegar, which is produced from the wood during the firing process is captured, to be used as a natural herbicide and pesticide.
But in what's believed to be an Australian first, businesses will also use the waste or by-products of others to fuel their own operations.It's the brainchild of Professor Ross Garnaut, a leading economist and renewable energy expert. "There's an opportunity in a place like Barcaldine to provide low cost renewable energy, and that's going to be very scarce and valuable as the world moves towards zero emissions."Especially for industries that require lots of energy, like producing ammonia to turn into fertiliser and explosives.
The precinct would sit near an already established solar farm and power station — using its power until more solar, wind and steam is built.How will it work?
Sounds good!