BIA, Alternative Fuels and Innovation
by Boating Industry Association 19 Nov 04:44 UTC
BIA, Alternative Fuels and Innovation © Boating Industry Association
BIA is today representing the boating industry at the AMSA Alternative Fuels and Emerging Technologies Roundtable with a wide range of delegates from across Australia.
BIA went into this Roundtable with the aim of ensuring the recreational boating sector's priorities in this area are heard and acknowledged, and that policy makers appreciate the economic and social value of boating when drafting strategies and regulations.
Earlier today, BIA tabled its National Recreational Boating Statement at the Roundtable. This milestone report indicates that by 2030 in Australia there will be more than 1 million registered boats and a similar number of craft not required to be registered, and there will be more than 6 million people participating in boating, and that expenditure on all forms of boating and watercraft based activities will reach $20 billion.
Because of the scale of the Australian boating sector and the number of existing internal combustion engines in the market, BIA is advocating for policy makers to realise sustainable drop-in fuels such as HVO (hydrotreated vegetable oil) is arguably the most logical solution for the recreational sector. The reason being it can be used unblended in existing engines and can contribute to significant reductions in carbon footprint and major reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. This approach supports the existing fleet which is comprised of vessels and engines built to last with long operational life spans and this approach can be partnered with support for electrification of new vessels, and other alternative fuel solutions as they come online, to underpin a recreational boating response to future policy and regulatory frameworks.
BIA is also liaising with ICOMIA on the development of a policy paper on HVO which should consider the full LCA of these fuels (well-to-tank) whether blended or unblended.
Pictured is a demonstration of the strengthening the nation's fuel resilience with Australia's Pacific Support Vessel, ADV Reliant, refuelling last month with renewable diesel for the first time. While docked in Townsville, the vessel took on 130,000 litres of a 30 per cent renewable diesel blend, demonstrating such vessels can operate on lower-emission fuels without compromising capability.