PROFESSIONAL PROFILE

 John Sanderson, B.Eng (Chem), PhD.
Senior Environmental Engineer

Summary
John Sanderson holds the position of Senior Environmental Engineer with Earth Systems. In this role, John conducts greenhouse gas and energy audits to comply with the relevant regulations and standards, and provides specialist technical and engineering consulting on biomass and bioenergy technologies and projects, including the emerging field of biochar.

After completing his PhD in 2003 John worked as a postdoctoral fellow for the CRC for Clean Power from Lignite, developing practical control strategies for operational issues in lignite gasification, and as a research engineer for CSIRO Minerals, providing engineering research, design and consulting services to the minerals processing industries.

John has extensive experience in biomass combustion and gasification systems, having developed and commercialised the small 15kWe Tasman gasifier for remote/developing regions, undertaken a feasibility study on the prospect of a bioenergy plant utilising burnt wood residues for the Marysville region, and most recently conducted a techno-economic evaluation of a mobile device for producing biochar from woody weeds for a Victorian Government authority.


Education and Affiliations

  • Bachelor of Chemical Engineering (Honours) – University of Adelaide, 1995.
  • Doctor of Philosophy (Chemical Engineering), Monash University, 2003.


Countries of Work Experience
 Australia, Canada, United Kingdom, New Zealand.


Professional History

  • 2008–Present: Senior Environmental Engineer, Earth Systems.
  • 2008: Senior Emissions Auditor, Carbon Planet.
  • 2006: Director, Gasification Australia.
  • 2002-2007: Research Engineer, CSIRO Minerals
  • 1997-2002: Principal Researcher, CRC for Clean Power from Lignite.


Fields of Special Competence
Greenhouse gas emissions auditing and calculation methodologies, industrial energy efficiency and waste heat recovery, biomass gasification and clean coal technologies, gas solids fluidization and mineral processing technologies.


Representative Experience
John has worked on the following projects:

  • Conducted a feasibility study on the technical and economic merits of a mobile device for producing biochar from woody weed residue associated with catchment management operations.
  • Assisted an Australian corporation to identify and compile energy and emissions data from their mine and process plant operations for reporting under the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting (NGER) Act.
  • Conducted a feasibility study on a 1MWe Bioenergy power plant utilising fire-damaged timber in the Marysville region.
  • Developed a calculation methodology (system carbon mass balance) and assumptions to estimate GHG emissions abatement potential of a proposed algal biodiesel process for a commercial client.
  • Conducted site energy audits and prepared energy audit reports (to AS/NZS 3598), including financial savings estimates, for 8 sites.
  • Undertook a comprehensive review of waste heat recovery prospects for the Australian minerals processing industry (CSIRO Minerals Report DMR-2464).
  • Conducted or assisted in full-scope GHG audits in accordance with WBCSD GHG protocol and ISO 14064-1 for 9 Australian business operations.
  • Undertook a detailed feasibility study (including long-term on-site monitoring) of the energy efficiency opportunities for a large industrial refrigeration plant in South Australia.
  • Undertook a detailed review of energy consumption trends and energy efficiency opportunities for corporate datacentres.
  • Designed, installed and commissioned a 15kWe/100kWth wood gasifier at University of Ulster, Northern Ireland.
  • Demonstrated 15kWe mobile gasification power plant at technical conferences and renewable energy field days.
  • Conducted a feasibility study on the gasification of waste-wood from a transfer station to provide heat for a municipal swimming pool in regional Victoria.