That's a wrap for Australian Renewable Fuels Week 2023!

Australian Renewable Fuels Week 2023 was an overwhelming success! What is abundantly clear, is that momentum is with us. It’s with the entire sector as we push forward, together. Events like this are not only a stocktake of where we have come and what we are doing, but a chance to be inspired to keep going, galvanized by each other’s success, break-through and achievement.

The inaugural Australian Renewable Fuels Week was an exciting opportunity to accelerate the significant potential of Australia’s Sustainable Aviation Fuel, Renewable Gas and Renewable Liquid Fuels sectors. The week was a collection of campaigns, events, launches, roundtables all focused on driving development of the industry. 

The week included a two-day dedicated conference focused on these key areas of renewable fuels, with thought leaders, decision makers and researchers exploring the most pressing challenges facing the industry, and ways to leverage its greatest opportunities.

On days either side of the conference, the week hosted a collection of campaigns, events, launches, roundtables and site visits all focussed on driving development of the industry.

The Australian Government's Bioenergy Roadmap has set ambitious targets for bioenergy deployment by 2030, and Australian Renewable Fuels Week will was a hub for domestic and international industry players to showcase their innovations in bioenergy solutions and share how they are adopting these proven technologies.  

To download the 2023 program click here
 
 

International Guests

We are particularly grateful for the valuable insights from our international guests including Chris Markey from the US Grains Council, Johannes Escudero, from the USA Renewable Natural Gas Coalition, Robin Vercruse from the Low Carbon Fuels Coalition, Steven Bartholomeusz from Neste, Kunal Shah from Anaergia, Pat Gruber from Gevo, Alex Menotti from Lanza Jet and Patrice Provost from Safran.

While each speaker, across two action-packed days, brought their unique perspectives, there was one overarching theme: Urgent action is required by governments to facilitate a domestic renewable fuels sector, before this incredible opportunity passes.

Key Announcements

It was also wonderful to hear some key announcements, including Jemena’s impending commencement of injecting biomethane into its Sydney gas network from its newly-constructed (complete with an impressive biodome) Malabar Biomethane Project.

Qantas signed a MoU with the Queensland Government to develop a SAF industry in the State, with the airline working with the Palaszczuk Government on how to make best use of the State’s impressive array of crop residues in the SAF supply chain.

Viva Energy announced plans to expand its recycling operations at its Corio plant and divert plastic waste and feedstock from landfill into renewable fuels.

Report launch success

The week commenced with the launch of our Transitioning Australia’s Liquid Fuels Sector report; a compelling Deloitte report commissioned by Bioenergy Australia that addresses the elephant in the room on decarbonising the economy: How we reduce emissions in the liquid fuel space, where electrification is problematic.

In addition to the Transitioning Australia’s Liquid Fuels Sector report, a number of significant reports were showcased across the event:

Workshops and conferences

To kick-off Australian Renewable Fuels Week, we held a Government workshop with international experts on the development and roll out of the US Renewable Fuels Standard and Low Carbon Fuel Standard in Canberra. This workshop included the Liquid Fuels Transition Team, Fuel Standards Team, Net Zero Team and Aviation Team, CEFC, ARENA, Defence, CSIRO.

In addition, a SAFAANZ & CFA Workshop “US & EU Policy driving down emissions, enhancing security & investment” and a QLD Government Workshop were held in Brisbane.

Membership

Bioenergy Australia welcomes new members. As members, you will be in the loop on the latest global developments relating to policies, technologies, projects and finance developments. Members can also participate in our Alliances to drive commercial outcomes within the industry and contribute to policy, advocacy, program and knowledge outcomes.

The Cleaner Fuels Alliance aims to assist in driving a greater understanding of, and appreciation for, the cleaner fuel sector in Australia with the intention of building a commercially viable industry for the sector.

The Renewable Gas Alliance aims to assist in driving a higher level of understanding, uptake and engagement relating to the renewable gas opportunities in Australia with a focus on biomethane.

The Sustainable Aviation Fuel Alliance of Australia and New Zealand aims to create a collaborative environment to advance sustainable aviation fuel production, policy, education and marketing in Australia and New Zealand.

Renewable Gas Challenge

As Australia tackles both an energy shortage and the immense task of decarbonising its economy, a golden opportunity presents itself for Australia’s manufacturing and industrial sectors to support renewable gas entering the market.

The future is Renewable Gas; an available energy source that is affordable, proven and importantly, ready for immediate use.

In a bid to unlock the immense potential of renewable gas, the Renewable Gas Alliance launched the Renewable Gas Challenge, challenging businesses and industry leaders to pledge their 2030 commitment to Renewable Gas, either in the form of biomethane or hydrogen.

Thank you to our sponsors

We would like to thank our valued sponsors who have helped bring together this important event: Queensland Government, bp, EDL Energy, Ampol, CEFC, Neste, Eneraque, AGIG, Jet Zero Australia, U.S. Grains Council, Race for 2030, Jemena, ExxonMobil and LMS Energy.

It was encouraging to see organisations enthusiastically supporting Australian Renewable Fuels Week and helping it become an insightful and inspiring opportunity to make change.

Media achieved

We received fantastic media coverage from the launch of Bioenergy Australia's Transitioning Australia’s Liquid Fuels Sector report and Australian Renewable Fuels Week, with more than 400 news items across the country, with a total reach in excess of 123 million.

The media campaign commenced with lead articles in The Australian and Australian Financial Review newspapers, leading into live TV interviews of Bioenergy Australia CEO Shahana McKenzie on ABC News Breakfast and Sky News Australia.

We secured primetime radio interviews with ABC Brisbane, Adelaide’s 5AA and Perth’s 6PR, and news grabs for the 2SM network in Sydney. Following the interview with ABC Brisbane, the report led the ABC National News bulletins at 11.30am and 12pm and received considerable mention nationwide all afternoon.

The Sky News interview generated follow-up news articles on several metropolitan news sites, including Australia’s biggest news site, www.news.com.au

Conference focused media

In addition to media about the report, the ARFW Conference received coverage in:

The stories covered Qantas’ “watch this space” commentary on passengers purchasing SAF, Pepsico’s pursuit of biomethane, and the analysis from Neste’s Steven Bartholomeusz on the improbable task of Australia reaching its climate targets without biofuels.

Read the full media report here.

Did you miss out on attending Australian Renewable Fuels Week? The conference presentations will soon be available on the Bioenergy Australia Youtube page.