Last month, Mike Davis spoke at the Renewable Fuels Summit (organised by Bioenergy Australia) alongside Tsuguhito Takenaka from Osaka Gas Australia in a session named “Scaling a Biogas Industry”. This session explored the policy frameworks, market mechanisms, and international best practices needed to scale Australia’s biogas industry.
Mike talked about the Griffith Biohub and how to accelerate biomethane development in Australia.
Mike began by outlining the strategic context around why we are focusing on biomethane and why now. Some of the reasons he covered include biomethane's ability to decarbonise hard-to-electrify sectors (industrial heat, food processing, transport fuels, etc.), its compatibility with existing infrastructure, its ability to strengthen regional energy security and circular economy outcomes, and emerging government policies and funding support.
Mike talked about the Griffith Biohub and how to accelerate biomethane development in Australia.
He then moved on to detail the Griffith Biohub project, explaining what it is, what feedstock will be used and how it will be aggregated, its biomethane production and emissions reduction potential, as well as regional benefits.
Mike commended the NSW Government on its leadership in this sector, especially with recent developments such as the expansion of the Renewable Fuels Scheme, state funding support via Net Zero Manufacturing and Industrial Decarbonisation initiatives, and clear policy signals which improve bankability of biomethane projects and investor confidence.
He finished his speech by pointing out the strategic significance of recent developments, such as the recent government funding for the Griffith Biohub, which will be a first-mover catalyst for the NSW biomethane market scale-up and will provide a platform for replication across other regional agricultural hubs.
Following Mike’s speech, Tsuguhito Takenaka detailed Osaka Gas Australia’s strategic direction and footprint in Australia.
Following Mike’s speech, Tsuguhito Takenaka detailed Osaka Gas Australia’s strategic direction and footprint in Australia, including its expansion from LNG projects into low-carbon initiatives (such as biomethane), in line with the Daigas Group’s global decarbonisation strategy. He also explained how Osaka Gas Australia is actively developing biomethane projects focused on domestic supply, applying Group expertise in close collaboration with Optimal Renewable Gas.
Overall, the event was very successful in drawing attention to prominent voices in the renewable gas industry, and we are very thankful to Bioenergy Australia for inviting Mike to speak at the summit!