ARENA opens Bioenergy Roadmap consultation

On behalf of the Federal Government, the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) is seeking input from stakeholders in Australia’s bioenergy sector to underpin the development of the Bioenergy Roadmap.

In 2019, ARENA’s Board agreed to a request from Energy and Emissions Reduction Minister Angus Taylor to invest in the development of the roadmap and identify the role the bioenergy sector can play in Australia’s energy transition, according to an ARENA statement.

“The Bioenergy Roadmap will help to inform the next series of investment and policy decisions in the bioenergy sector in Australia,” the statement reads.

“It will be an important input into the Australian Government’s Technology Investment Roadmap, and will potentially help us capitalise on opportunities to enhance Australia’s energy security and further reduce our emissions.”

Key focus areas will include: the potential for biofuels to decarbonise the industrial and transport sectors and contribute more broadly to Australia’s liquid fuel security, identifying economic or regulatory impediments to future growth and assessing where Australia has a competitive advantage.

ARENA has appointed a consortium of ENEA Consulting and Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu to assist in delivering the roadmap.

The consortium will canvas views from a wide range of stakeholders through a series of workshops, direct interviews and an open submission process.

ARENA CEO Darren Miller said the roadmap is expected to provide clear findings for industry and government to drive outcomes for the development of Australia’s bioenergy industry.

“The development of the Bioenergy Roadmap presents an opportunity to allow industry leaders, researchers and the public to provide insight into the current state of bioenergy in Australia and how best we can grow the sector in the future,” he said.

A final report will be provided to Minister Taylor later this year.