The project published its first report in May 2014, which provides an interim sustainability assessment showing that the production of biofuel from mallee complies with the RSB’s 12 principles for alternative fuel sustainability certification.
The sustainability assessment was applied to established farm operations, with mallee planted specifically for jet fuel manufacture, over the period 2021–2051.
Results showed that the mallee jet fuel obtained through the pyrolysis pathway achieves about 40% emissions reductions compared to conventional jet fuel. Further R&D and modeling are required to achieve the 50% threshold of the RSB standard.
The analysis did not show evidence detrimental impacts on surface or groundwater resources. Mallee has also a positive impact on biodiversity and could be favourable to reduce soil erosion.
The business plan of mallee production is still under investigation. Existing data show that the cost of jet fuel produced from mallee is currently not competitive with conventional jet fuel, but there are evidence that the costs are converging and mallee biomass could be cost competitive by the 2021.
The report is available on Future Farm Industries CRC website.
