Australia’s sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) ambitions have received a significant boost with Brisbane Airport becoming home to the nation’s first dedicated end-to-end SAF storage, blending and delivery facility connected directly to an airport fuel supply system.
Backed by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), Viva Energy has completed a $4.93 million upgrade of its Pinkenba Terminal, enabling SAF to be stored, blended, certified and supplied to aircraft through Brisbane Airport’s existing Joint User Hydrant Installation (JUHI) network.
The project also introduces a digital accounting platform that allows airlines and corporate customers to purchase, track and verify the emissions reductions associated with the SAF they use through a “book and claim” system.
The refurbished 3.3 million-litre storage tank was officially opened by Queensland Treasurer and Minister for Energy David Janetzki at a ceremony attended by representatives from ARENA, Brisbane Airport, Virgin Australia and Qantas.
ARENA CEO Darren Miller said the project represented an important step in building the infrastructure needed to decarbonise one of the world’s hardest-to-abate industries.
“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.”
Airports push Canberra to fast-track domestic sustainable aviation fuel industry
From cooking oil to fuel
The facility is designed to handle SAF produced from biogenic feedstocks such as used cooking oil, with the integrated certification system providing internationally recognised tracking of the fuel’s sustainability credentials from terminal to aircraft.
Viva Energy general manager Aviation Nick Adams said the project established the infrastructure needed to support a larger SAF market in Australia.
“SAF cannot reach scale in Australia unless the right infrastructure, systems and customer confidence are in place,” Adams said. “This project puts those foundations on the ground at Brisbane Airport. It shows how SAF can move from supply chain ambition to real airport operations, with ISCC-recognised transparency for credible emissions claims.
“It is an important step towards a more reliable SAF market in Australia and potentially, over time, a domestic manufacturing industry that can support lower-emissions aviation.”
Brisbane Airport CEO Gert-Jan de Graaff said the infrastructure would help make SAF a more routine part of airport operations.
“Every litre of sustainable aviation fuel delivered through this dedicated infrastructure to Brisbane Airport helps move the aviation industry closer to its decarbonisation goals,” de Graaff said. “By working together across the supply chain, we can help make sustainable aviation fuel a more regular part of aircraft operations in Queensland while building momentum for a stronger sustainable aviation fuel industry in Australia.”
The Brisbane milestone comes as ARENA continues to expand its investment in Australia’s emerging SAF sector. The agency has announced a further $3.15 million for Wildfire Energy to pilot waste-to-methanol technology and assess the feasibility of a Queensland facility capable of converting waste into sustainable aviation fuel.
The latest investment brings ARENA’s total commitment under its Sustainable Aviation Fuel Funding Initiative to $36.7 million across six projects. The agency is also administering the Federal Government’s $250 million Future Made in Australia Innovation Fund for low-carbon liquid fuels, aimed at accelerating domestic SAF production and strengthening Australia’s aviation decarbonisation supply chain.
