The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) is seeking public submissions on how Australia can build its bioenergy sector and strengthen the country’s energy security.
ARENA has invited the contributions as it develops a Bioenergy Roadmap.
The Agency has agreed to a request from the Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction to develop the roadmap in order to identify the role the bioenergy sector could play in the nation’s energy transition to renewables.
Chief Executive of ARENA, Darren Miller said the roadmap would help inform the next series of investment and policy decisions in the bioenergy sector in Australia.
“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,” Mr Miller said.
He said the roadmap was expected to be completed in the second half of the year and would include a number of focal points.
He said it would quantify the economic opportunities for Australia, especially regional Australia; it would consider the potential for biofuels to de-carbonise the industrial and transport sectors; and it would assess where Australia had a competitive advantage.
He said it would also identify economic or regulatory impediments to future growth and provide clear findings for industry and Government to help inform the next stage of development of the sector.
Mr Miller said the roadmap presented an opportunity to allow industry leaders, researchers and the public to provide insights into the current state of bioenergy in Australia and how best the sector could be grown in the future.
“It will also be an important input into the Australian Government’s Technology Investment Roadmap which will be released for public consultation soon,” Mr Miller said.
Submissions are invited from businesses, research groups, industry associations, community groups and individuals by 29 May with more information available at this PS News link.
A final report is to be provided to the Minister later this year.
