Renewable diesel is among the latest technologies fishers are encouraged to trial as the fishing and aquaculture sectors investigate ways to decarbonise operations. 

Two NSW commercial fishers have been the first in Australia to trial a low carbon renewable fuel solution as part of a NSW Government research project on sustainable energy usage in the commercial fishing sector.  

Two ocean trawlers in the Northern Rivers and a river trawler on the Hawkesbury River took part in the trial, each testing 6000 litres of renewable diesel (R-diesel), blended with fossil fuel diesel. 

What is renewable diesel? 

R-diesel can be made from biological feedstocks including tallow, oilseed crops and sugar cane and has been used extensively in both the US and Europe. It represents a “drop-in” alternative to fossil diesel that does not require fishers to alter their vessels.  

It could also help to reduce emissions from fuel use by 70 per cent to 90 per cent depending on the blend used.  

Chemically, it behaves the same way in an engine as standard diesel. 

The R-diesel trial is part of the $640,000 Beyond Fossil Diesel program, which is a collaboration between the NSW Government and the Decarbonisation Innovation Hub. 

Fisher responses 

NSW Northern Rivers fisher Steve Everson is one of those who trialled the R-diesel, fishing for prawns on the Clarence River and Yamba region. 

Steve says it’s important to be involved in trials of products such as R-diesel given that the whole sector is trying to reduce its carbon footprint. He added R-diesel to his standard diesel at a rate of 20 per cent and reported no issues with the trawler’s operations. 

“However, we were only putting 5,000 litres of R-diesel with 25,000 litres of normal diesel. We use 600 litres of fuel a night fishing, so it only allowed us to do a few trips,” says Steve. 

“We’ve been guided by the research in using the R-diesel and we had no problems. But I’d really like to see a larger trial.” 

He notes that the current cost of imported R-diesel is a major deterrent to its adoption, at about $5 per litre, compared to $1.60–$1.80 for standard diesel. 

“It’s the right idea, but the cost is too high to take it up fully. If it could be made here cheaper, or there was some kind of rebate, that could help,” says Steve. 

NSW Hawkesbury River fisher Paul Aquilina also tried the r-diesel, saying it burned much cleaner than standard diesel.   

“I have a wet exhaust system, and when I mixed in the R-diesel at 30 per cent, the black soot from the exhaust disappeared."

"I’d swap to it in an instant if the price was similar,” says Paul. 

Support to decarbonise 

FRDC Extension Officer Kris Cooling says although FRDC has not funded this project, it is keen to highlight initiatives such as the R-diesel project to help the seafood sector decarbonise its operations. 

Kris acknowledged price as an issue. He said the development of an Australian Low Carbon Liquid Fuel industry could see prices come down with sufficient demand and increased production. 

Fuel additives to improve combustion efficiency are another product being explored through the NSW Beyond Fossil Diesel program with preliminary research suggesting such additives can be a low-cost initial step in the transition to a lower carbon fishing sector. 

More information: Beyond Fossil Diesel