The study, which is a first in Australia, was produced as part of a six-month distance course in bioenergy technology.

Conducted by the Linnaeus University in Sweden, the course saw the first of its 10 students graduate last week .

Course co-ordinator and World Bioenergy Association board member Andrew Lang said the technology was being used in some parts of Europe for up to 30 years.

“(We can convert) municipal solid waste to energy, wood pellets for heating, buses fuelled by methane produced from sewage and wet waste, and straw being used to produce ethanol, or heat and electricity,” Mr Lang said.

The set of nine reports that were presented to the City of Ballarat last Wednesday detailed how bioenergy could produce 15 per cent of the city’s electricity, up to 30 per cent of transport fuel and 30 per cent of heating needs.

“Unlike wind energy, bioenergy has a much smaller footprint on the landscape,” Mr Lang said.

He said the technology would cost about $12 million to set up but could be recovered fully over time.

Highlands Regional Waste Management chairperson Noel Perry said the City of Ballarat had received a $50,000 grant from the state government for a feasibility study into a potential bio-energy facility.

“Ballarat and the Highlands Region Waste Management Group have been looking for solutions for organic waste for several years,” Cr Perry said.

“This funding gives us the chance to explore a range of possibilities to determine the best site, the best technology and best investment model.”

The feasibility study will also investigate how this could be implemented with no direct costs to residents.