Current feedstock can meet Australia’s SAF needs, says paper

“Australia’s competitive advantage begins in the paddock, and it’s an advantage we can act on now,” said GrainCorp managing director and CEO Robert Spurway.

“We already produce the feedstocks needed to underpin a domestic SAF industry, including canola, tallow and used cooking oil, supported by established infrastructure, expertise and supply chains.

“The challenge is that those feedstocks are currently undervalued and largely exported, leaving the country reliant on imported fuel.

“Australian growers can play a central role in strengthening the nation’s fuel supply using crops we already produce – but like any industry, they need clear market signals to make long-term commercial decisions.”

The paper comes as Viva Energy opens dedicated SAF infrastructure at its Pinkenba terminal in Queensland, to supply Brisbane Airport.

The $4.93 million project, part funded by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), saw a 3.3 million litre SAF storage tank refurbished, along with the installation of a “certification and accounting system to track and account for the environmental benefits of the fuel”.

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The system will allow biogenic feedstocks such as used cooking oil to be turned into SAF and blended into Brisbane’s jet fuel supply.

According to ARENA CEO Darren Miller, airlines and corporate customers will be able to purchase, track and account for the emissions reductions under a “book and claim” system.

“Aviation is one of the hardest sectors to decarbonise and sustainable aviation fuel will play a critical role in reducing emissions using today’s aircraft and infrastructure,” he said.

“This project shows how we can start supplying SAF through existing fuel systems, while building the foundations for a domestic industry in Australia.”

According to Viva Energy general manager of aviation Nick Adams, the project “represents an important step in building the infrastructure and market framework needed to support aviation decarbonisation in Australia”.

“SAF cannot reach scale in Australia unless the right infrastructure, systems and customer confidence are in place,” he said.

“This project puts those foundations on the ground at Brisbane Airport. It shows how SAF can move from supply chain ambition to real airport operations, with ISCC-recognised transparency for credible emissions claims.

“It is an important step towards a more reliable SAF market in Australia and potentially, over time, a domestic manufacturing industry that can support lower-emissions aviation.”

Sydney Airport CEO Scott Charlton and the Australian Airports Association (AAA) have been among those calling for a domestic SAF industry to secure fuel supplies in the wake of the Iran conflict.