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Defence is rolling out sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and other low-carbon liquid fuels (LCLFs) across its operations to “strengthen fuel resilience”.
The initiative, which aligns with the 2026 National Defence Strategy to “enhance energy security and operational readiness”, has seen all ADF aviation and land assets certified to operate on low-carbon fuels, with certification of maritime platforms “nearing completion”.
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According to Defence, the move introduces more diverse fuel sources, which is “essential to enhancing Defence’s energy security”.
“Supporting domestic renewable fuel production strengthens Australia’s sovereign capability. These demonstrations are an important step toward building a more resilient and sustainable energy future for Defence,” said Director General Fuel Capability Brigadier Mark Baldock.
The Defence Energy Transition Office (DETO) has been undertaking certification processes and demonstrations of SAF and renewable diesel, including during Avalon Air Show and Exercise Talisman Sabre.
According to policy adviser Commander Steve Cole, DETO is now “focused on adopting certification for ADF platforms to ensure internal assurance processes are met and to facilitate interoperability with partner nations that are also adopting LCLFs”.
“Australia is increasingly looking to be self-sufficient, so the focus at DETO is making sure that Defence is prepared to use these fuels as they become available,” he said.
“A big part of these demonstrations has been taking maintainers and crews of the platforms, planners and decision-makers on a journey to understand we are talking about drop-in replacement fuels that meet the same specifications.”
The news comes after the release earlier this month of two consultation papers on the Federal Government’s $14.8 billion Fuel Security and Resilience Package, including investment in low-carbon liquid fuels.
“Transport is by far the largest user of liquid fuels in Australia, accounting for around three quarters of Australia’s total usage, and we remain highly dependent on imported fuels, as we’ve seen recently,” said Transport Minister Catherine King.
“We continue to rely on liquid fuels for some time, and I’ve said for a long time, developing a low-carbon liquid fuel industry here in Australia is in our national interest, both from a fuel security point of view, but also the opportunities it poses for those in the region, for our farmers in particular.
“We already export around about $5 billion worth of feedstock, that is then turned into low-carbon liquid fuel internationally, and then sold back to Australian airlines, in particular at the moment, as many airlines are increasing their sustainable aviation fuel uptake.”
Fuel prices, including jet fuel, have jumped significantly since the outbreak of the Iran conflict earlier this year, causing higher costs for airlines and consumers.
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