The Australian Government released the Strategic Framework for Alternative Transport Fuels (the Framework) on 13 December 2011. The Framework was developed in consultation with industry, government and other stakeholders throughout 2011 and is an input to the Energy White Paper development process. Information about the Energy White Paper process is available at www.energywhitepaper.ret.gov.au.
The Framework establishes a long term approach to a market led adoption of alternative transport fuels in Australia and includes 20 actions for industry, Government and other stakeholders to implement to address identified barriers to uptake, including:
- providing leadership and certainty through the: application of Alternative Transport Fuels Principles; continuation of coordinated policy approach; the collaborative review of guidelines to remove unintended measures that could limit feedstock and technologies; and establishment of relevant advisory mechanisms.
- encouraging research, development and demonstration through international collaboration and technology development opportunities utilising existing Government programs.
- improving understanding of commercialisation, skills and financing issues through collaborative projects and other actions utilising existing Government programs.
- addressing market failures through the provision of improved information; the creation of sustainability standards; and consideration of a verification protocol for the assessment of greenhouse gas performance of alternative transport fuels.
The Framework is available for download below.
Consultation process
The Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism (RET) was responsible for developing the Framework. The process included a desktop study of literature and a comprehensive consultation process.
RET was guided by an Alternative Fuels Strategic Issues Group (AFSIG), with members drawn from the Australian Government, fuel suppliers, technology and infrastructure suppliers, user groups, researchers, finance and investment sectors. RET also undertook further consultation with industry, Commonwealth agencies, State and Territory governments and other stakeholders via a series of inter-departmental, inter-governmental and other meetings.
RET engaged Rare Consulting Pty Ltd to develop and facilitate the fuel forum consultation process and provide strategic advice and technical input relating to the range of alternative transport fuels. Two tranches of fuel forums were conducted from 4 to 12 April 2011 and from 10 to 17 May 2011. The fuel forums were divided into six categories of: gaseous fuels, biofuels, synthetic fuels, electric vehicles, light duty vehicle users and heavy duty vehicle users. The forum outcomes are contained in a series of 13 reports prepared by RARE Consulting Pty Ltd. Separate reports for each of the fuel forums and a synopsis paper which provides a holistic consideration of the benefits, barriers and actions proposed by stakeholders are available for download below.
To better understand the possible range of future outcomes arising from different economic and fuel price scenarios out to 2030, RET engaged the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) to conduct modelling of the Australian alternative transport fuels market to 2050. The CSIRO report, Possible Futures – Scenario Modelling of Australian Alternative Transport Fuels to 2050, is available for download below.
Supporting documents
The following additional 17 documents accompany the Strategic Framework for Alternative Transport Fuels and should be read in conjunction with the main document.