The hemicellulose sugars of barley straw can be effectively fermented into biobutanol when starch is added during the pretreatment or fermentation process, according to a study from the University of Eastern Finland. [ + ]

Researchers from UNSW have used water-tracing technology in the Sydney Basin to determine how groundwater moves in the different layers of rock below the surface. [ + ]

The Rural City of Wangaratta in Victoria owns and operates an EPA-licensed landfill at Bowser. It is a challenging site as it divided in two by the Sydney-to-Melbourne four-lane Hume Highway, which was a major reason for the requirement of a wireless system.

After moving into new premises and constructing a new 40,000 L testing tank, Andzac Water Treatment is now able to improve efficiency further by 'tuning' the venturis of its aeration technology. AWT is also adding an additional source of air injection into the pre-pump stage, including flash mixing, which will allow the introduction of chemicals to be added into the jet venturi stream.

Quantum Power has secured a biogas project which will offset 100% of grid-supplied electricity for its client — a Western Australian pork producer. The project is set to generate up to 1 MW of renewable energy by converting manure from the pig-housing facility into biogas. [ + ]

The councils of the Albury Wodonga region have set the best practice benchmark for food and garden waste (FOGO) recycling in Australia, following their recent commencement of combined garden and food collection services for households.

Biogass Renewables recently commissioned a large-scale commercial and industrial organics waste-to-energy reference facility for Richgro Garden Products in Jandakot, Western Australia. [ + ]

ABB has won an order from Socabelec East Africa to design, supply and install a PowerStore flywheel-based microgrid stabilisation solution for the Marsabit wind farm in northern Kenya. The technology is being developed by ABB's Microgrid and Renewable Energy Integration team, based in Darwin. [ + ]

The City of Melbourne is diverting tonnes of inner-city food waste from landfill using the GaiaRecycle concept from Eco Guardians. [ + ]

Margaret Court Arena has become the first sport and entertainment arena in Australia to receive a LEED Gold certification, following its recent redevelopment. [ + ]

On-site power generation through solar is helping aged care facilities reduce a dominant operating expense within their budget. [ + ]

A fruit and vegetable wholesaler and a food waste dehydration system supplier have combined their widely differing core skills to establish a sustainability initiative called enrich360. [ + ]

Recent trials by CHEP Australia in the use of re-usable plastic crates as an alternative to cardboard cartons for the banana industry have returned positive results for growers and other members of the supply chain. [ + ]

Researchers have developed a new method for reducing the friction generated by engine components to almost zero — a breakthrough that could save billions of litres of fuel worldwide every year. [ + ]

Fonterra Brands New Zealand has partnered with TerraCycle in the launch of a recycling program for yoghurt pouches — a packaging product that would previously have gone to landfill. [ + ]