A leading construction advocacy group has joined calls for the Federal Government to help increase the adoption of low-carbon fuels.
The Australian Constructors Association (ACA) wants to see the fuels used to bridge the gap until the electrification “matures” within ‘hard-to-abate’ sectors like construction, quarrying and mining.
“ACA is calling for direct government policy intervention to rapidly accelerate both the supply and demand for renewable diesel in Australia,” ACA chief executive Jon Davies said.
“Renewable diesel enables necessary emission reductions in the short term without modifications to existing machinery.”
The ACA joins the likes of BioEnergy Australia who have petitioned to the government for a greater uptake of renewable diesel.
The ACA released a reported into the importance of decarbonising the construction sector to help meet Australia’s net-zero targets.
The report found renewable diesel, especially produced by domestically, could have aditional benefits including energy security, local employment and economic growth.
The report suggest the Federal Government development a new low-carbon liquid fuel policy like a National Renewable Diesel Roadmap.
“The problem is, there is currently no domestic renewable diesel production in Australia – this reflects a policy vacuum that lags other countries significantly,” Davies said.
“Importing renewable diesel is cost prohibitive relative to mineral diesel, making adoption a competitive disadvantage.”
