Australia is looking to turn forest residues into the next generation of low‑carbon fuels used in shipping, aviation and chemicals as part of the Fibre to Fuels (F2F) project – a new project backed by the Australian Forest and Wood Innovations (AFWI) Centre for Sustainable Futures at the University of the Sunshine Coast.
Led by HAMR Energy, the project will test the technical, commercial and emissions‑reduction potential of producing methanol from plantation residues using entrained‑flow gasification and aligns with AFWI’s national mission to maximise the value of Australia’s wood fibre resources and strengthen the link between forestry and renewable energy.
The announcement comes after Wood Central last month revealed that the Albanese government has committed $1.1 billion to expand domestic sustainable fuel manufacturing under its Cleaner Fuels Program. That program is already supporting HAMR Energy’s Portland Renewable Fuels Project in Victoria’s Green Triangle, which aims to produce 300,000 tonnes of renewable methanol annually by combining forestry biomass with green hydrogen.
HAMR Energy Director Alex Smith said the initiative would demonstrate how residues from plantations in Tasmania, Western Australia and the Green Triangle can be converted into low‑carbon liquid fuels using proven technology. “The findings will help forestry businesses unlock new value from their plantations, support Australia’s renewable fuels industry, and help reduce emissions from aviation and shipping,” Smith said.
According to Professor Mark Brown, Director of the AFWI Centre for Sustainable Futures, the project exemplifies the kind of translational research needed to accelerate Australia’s low‑carbon transition. “Forestry residues are a high‑quality resource that can become a valuable domestic feedstock for renewable fuel production,” he said. “Fibre to Fuels exemplifies commercially‑minded innovation that can move Australia to the forefront of low‑carbon manufacturing, delivering regional benefits, building sovereign capability, and contributing to the decarbonisation of hard‑to‑abate sectors.”
The announcement comes after OneFortyOne, one of Australia and New Zealand’s largest forest managers, signed a memorandum of understanding with HAMR Energy last month to supply residues to the Portland project and explore expansion into New Zealand.
That deal is described as a “missing piece” in developing a trans‑Tasman market for sustainable aviation and marine fuels, with Air New Zealand among international carriers advocating for forest waste to be converted into jet fuel. Industry leaders say the combined initiatives could transform the Green Triangle into a powerhouse for renewable fuels, creating new income streams for growers and processors while supporting regional jobs. “Plantation wood fibre residues and byproducts that might otherwise go to waste will be transformed into renewable low‑carbon fuels – helping to decarbonise heavy transport, shipping and aviation,” said Andrew White, CEO of Victoria’s Forest Products Association.
- To learn more about the push to convert forest waste from Australia’s abundant plantations in the Green Triangle into sustainable aviation fuels, click here for Wood Central’s special feature from June 2023.
