Australia’s first parliamentary inquiry into data centres has launched. While there is always a focus on how data centre growth drives electricity and water demand, the critical link between water cooling towers and diesel backup power often flies under the radar. The inquiry explicitly calls out the use of diesel for backup generation, including the associated emissions and health impacts.

Australia’s government has announced a $1.1 billion investment in low carbon liquid fuels. The Cleaner Fuels Program will drive new job creation and help decarbonise hard-to-abate sectors. With HVO and SAF production a focus, what demand-side policies will be needed to create lasting change?

The latest Productivity Commission report has placed a spotlight on renewable diesel as a critical pathway to reducing emissions in Australia’s heavy vehicle sector. While some details are lacking, the repeated emphasis on renewable diesel marks a significant step forward in recognising its role in Australia’s net-zero transition.

The Albanese Government has recently announced a significant investment of $250 million to accelerate the growth of Australia's domestic Low Carbon Liquid Fuels (LCLF) industry. LCLFs represent a promising avenue for reducing carbon emissions in sectors that heavily rely on liquid fuels.