ARENA awards $13m for industrial decarbonisation

The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has announced five projects that will receive a share of $13 million in ARENA funding, unlocking investment in cutting-edge technologies to accelerate decarbonisation, lower long-term energy costs and support low-carbon supply chains and consumer goods.

ARENA CEO Darren Miller said decarbonising industry is one of the defining challenges of Australia’s energy transition, and that targeted ARENA funding is critical to de-risking early projects, accelerating deployment and unlocking broader private investment.

“Australia cannot reach net zero without transforming how we produce the materials, energy and goods that underpin our economy,” he said. “These projects show that industrial decarbonisation is not a future aspiration but is happening now, with practical solutions that cut emissions, strengthen competitiveness and build the foundations for new low-carbon industries.”

The funded projects span a range of technologies and sectors, showing how clean energy solutions can be integrated into existing operations and deliver measurable emissions reductions today, while building capability for deeper reductions over time.

Projects include:

• 4 Pines Brewing Co will receive up to $1.77 million in ARENA funding to support the electrification of its Brookvale brewhouse, enabling a transition away from natural gas and positioning the site among the most advanced low-carbon breweries in Australia.
• Alsco will receive up to $1.04 million to deliver its South Coast Flagship Site for Innovation and Low Carbon Demonstration, a showcase of clean technology for automated laundry sorting and washing that reduces energy, time and resource use.
• Opella Healthcare will receive up to $1.94 million to eliminate natural gas use at its Queensland manufacturing site, cutting Scope 1 emissions while maintaining essential production conditions, including temperature, humidity and water flow.
• Capral will receive up to $3.45 million to replace a 40-year-old gas-fired log furnace with a fully electric furnace system at its Bremer Park aluminium extrusion facility in Queensland, expected to improve efficiency from 20% to 90%.
• BioCarbon will receive up to $4.8 million to construct a commercial-scale facility producing biochar pellets to replace fossil coke in electric arc furnace steelmaking.
   

These projects have been funded under the now closed National Industrial Transformation (NIT) Program which supported projects aimed at reducing Scope 1 and 2 emissions at existing or planned industrial facilities in Australia. Following the program’s closure, this support continues through ARENA’s Industrial Transformation Stream (ITS) for existing regional industrial facilities.

More information on ITS Round 3, including eligibility and application processes, is available on the ARENA website here.

Image credit: iStock.com/Dilok Klaisataporn