Australia-first 100% renewable diesel to be trialled

Political party, Australia-first are trialling the use of 100% renewable diesel to fuel a Scania test engine, with support from the Palaszczuk Government’s Advance Queensland Industry Attraction Fund.

Southern Oil’s Advanced Biofuels Pilot Plant at Yarwun, near Gladstone, is pioneering the refining of renewable diesel fuel made from waste plastic, old tyres, agricultural and forestry waste and biosolids.

The Scania V8 test engine is being used in its power generation configuration for the testing. This will allow for the assessment of exhaust emissions, performance and response, fuel efficiency, cost and engine lifetime.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has stated that renewable diesel is a much greener alternative to mineral diesel. “Our government is committed to creating a sustainable, export-oriented biofutures industry in Queensland,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

“A state-based renewable fuels industry would underpin Queensland's domestic fuel security for decades to come. Over the next 12-to-18 months, Southern Oil will be trialling renewable diesel in the test engine to show it performs identically to petroleum-based diesel in terms of performance and wear-and-tear on the engine.”

Palaszczuk added, “Southern Oil is also aiming to build a commercial-scale renewable fuel refinery within five years, which would create significant job opportunities and improve domestic fuel security for our state. This trial is a critical milestone for the development of the renewable fuel industry in Queensland,”  

Minister for state development, manufacturing, infrastructure and planning, Cameron Dick said that the Palaszczuk Government is committed to delivering a $1 billion sustainable and export-oriented biotechnology and bioproducts sector by 2026.

“Our government attracted Southern Oil’s $25 million biofuels pilot plant to Queensland in 2017 with a grant through the Advance Queensland Industry Attraction Fund,” Mr Dick said.