Brisbane Airport now facilitates SAF

Brisbane Airport is now able to access sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) via Viva Energy Australia's refurbished storage tank.

The completion of the refurbishment was achieved through the Australian Renewable Energy Agency's (ARENA) funding, which is stationed at Viva Energy's Pinkenba Terminal, within a 10-minute travel distance to the airport.

The project will supply SAF to aircraft at Brisbane Airport and trial a 'book and claim' system, allowing airlines and corporate customers to purchase, track and account for the emissions reductions associated with the SAF supplied to the airport, ARENA said.

ARENA chief executive Darren Miller said the move marks a key milestone in building Australia's low emission aviation industry, while highlighting progress in building the supply chains needed to decarbonise aviation.

"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," Miller said.

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

Alongside the broadened access by the Brisbane Airport, ARENA is also supporting a pipeline of projects to accelerate the development of domestic SAF.

This includes $3.15 million under the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Funding Initiative for Wildfire Energy to pilot the integration of its MIHG technology with methanol synthesis to produce methanol and undertake a feasibility study to assess a Queensland facility that would convert waste into SAF.

To date, ARENA provided $36.7 million in funding towards six projects as part of its Sustainable Aviation Fuel Funding Initiative. The organisation is also administering the Future Made in Australia Innovation Fund, including its low-carbon liquid fuels funding stream with $250 million in funding available.