LOW CARBON LIQUID FUELS

With a volatile global energy system under pressure, alternatives to energy production, supply and security need to be considered. Low Carbon Liquid Fuels (LCLF) offer a low-carbon solution for hard-to-abate industries such as long-distance transport, mining and construction.

Renewable diesel (RD) and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) are examples of LCLF that may be used as drop-in replacements for fossil fuels. SAF can reduce lifecycle greenhouse-gas emissions by up to 80% compared with fossil fuels.

LCLFs are derived from a range of feedstocks such as biomass, waste products, natural oils and fats, other carbon sources and hydrogen. Crops like pongamia provide potential feedstocks for SAF because they can grow in tough conditions, produce high-energy oils or sugars and do not compete with food crops or high-value farmland.

Silvo Plus is exploring how these crops may supply future SAF markets, linking regional agriculture to the global clean-energy transition while building new income opportunities for producers across northern Australia.

CATTLE FEED

Beyond its role as an energy-crop, pongamia offers by-products that may enhance livestock systems. After oil extraction, the remaining seedcake, once processed to remove natural anti-nutritional compounds, contains high levels of protein and energy suitable for inclusion in ruminant diets. This provides an additional revenue stream for growers and supports feed availability during dry seasons.

Integrating pongamia trees within grazing landscapes may also deliver on-farm benefits: shade and shelter for animals, improved nitrogen cycling through leaf-litter and better soil moisture retention that supports pasture growth. These advantages may help stabilise livestock production under variable climatic conditions.

Through research and local partnerships, Silvo Plus intends to trial how biofuel feedstock crops may operate in tandem with grazing enterprises, building circular agricultural systems that strengthen farm resilience, reduce risk, and enhance the long-term productivity of northern Australia’s pastoral regions.

EXTERNAL RESOURCES