Australia's Department of Defence (DoD) will target converting an air force base to use sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and trial renewable diesel, possibly in a naval vessel, as part of its response to the federal government's Defence Strategic Review.
The DoD is aiming to operate a yet to be selected base on SAF for a trial period of up to 12 months and will trial renewable diesel in 2024. But costs and the lack of significant domestic biofuels production remains a remains a key barrier to adoption by Australia's military. The DoD's future energy strategy is likely to be released by the end of March, ahead of a broader response to the Defence Strategic Review released last year.
"Over the next couple of decades we expect fossil fuels to reduce in availability and increase in cost, requiring Defence to transition our energy types simply to maintain capability," Brigadier Gabrielle Follett told a conference in Canberra on 19 March. "Given that we depend upon a resilient energy supply to sustain defence operations, this is another key driver for our transition to sustainable fuels."
The DoD is finalising a future energy strategy to determine how to adapt to new fuels while maintaining operational capability and preparedness as a military force. It will focus on interoperability with allies and partners to ensure compatibility is increased in the future.
A energy transition office has been set up to engage with the industry and government to assist with the renewable fuels drive, although the DoD confirmed it will continue using fossil-fuel based energy until at least 2050.
The Australian Defence Force uses about 1pc of Australia's total oil product consumption of approximately 1mn b/d, with jet fuel its largest single fuel. Its specifications differ from the commercial aviation industry and requires additives, with Australian refiner Viva Energy currently holding the supply contract.
