What Do We Do?

Bioenergy Plantations Australia (BPA) has focused on selecting elite varieties of Pongamia (Millettia) Pinnata, and funding Genetic and propagation research which has been undertaken by Professor Peter Gresshoff with the University of Queensland's ARC Centre of Excellence for Integrative Legume Research.  BPA has simultaneously undertaken it's own clonal propagation and silviculture research, whilst refining and developing broad acre Pongamia/Milletia Pinnata plantations.  The ultimate goal is to significantly impact, or entirely replace, the use of liquid fossil fuels in Australia.

 

                                                

above: 300 hectare trial of Pongamia (Millettia) Pinnata in Western Queensland.


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Why Do Other Sites Show So Much Higher Yields For Millettia than Pongamia?

First of all, Millettia and Pongamia are just different names for the same tree.  Others include Honge, Karanji, Kalpa and Indian Beech to name but a few (see the wiki here for more details).  Also, if you come across any websites claiming yields over 150kg per tree, it would be wise to get 3rd party professional confirmation of a tree yielding at this rate.  It is also important to check if the tree is of a practical size for a plantation.  For a visual indication, an average mature plantation tree (approx 18 years old tree pictured right), which appears very heavily laden with seeds, would be very unlikely to support more than 150kg of seed in shell, and would more than likely be significantly less.

 

 

Why Pongamia (Millettia)?

- Native to Australia and is not an invasive weed threat

- Climatically suited to Northern Australia (prefers environment of 25-40 degrees)

- Legume (Creates its own nitrogen)

- Drought tolerant

- Produces Food & Fuel at the same time

- By-product meal can be treated to produce high protein livestock feed

- Sequesters Carbon (tree growth & Fuel substitution)

- Up to 100 year productive life

- Can be mechanically harvested

- Direct use of oil in modified engines

- Highly salt tolerant

- Can be converted into high quality BioDiesel or 2nd Generation biofuels

- Cost effective broad acre solution

- 200x200km planted out with Pongamia (Millettia) could replace all of Australia's liquid fuel needs

- 4-5 years until first yield, 8 years until 100% yield.

- suitable for interrow cropping during first 3 years of growth

 

What Does BPA offer?

- Elite plant material (developed with UQ)

- Consultancy for planning and development of all facets of the Pongamia business through to end use of products.

- Specialised equipment for entire process


 
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Interesting Facts

Millettia Pinnata = Pongamia Pinnata

A common misconception is that Millettia is a higher yielding version of Pongamia, however this actually isn't true.  They are not a different variety, Millettia pinnata is simply the new botanical name for Pongamia pinnata. 

It would be wise to get an independent party to verify yields over 100-150kg per tree before investing your money.  In the extensive research undertaken over the last 5 years, there has not been an independently verified tree yielding over 150kg to BER's knowledge, other than some very large, very old trees, which could never be harvested in a plantation setting.  This includes researchers working in India, Sri Lanka, and all over Northern Queensland.

It should also be noted, that a yield of 40kg per tree would produce more than economically viable outcomes with a plant population of 300-500 trees per hectare.  See "about pongamia" for more.
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