Tasmania seeks feedback on how to spin its renewables advantage into green fuel gold

The Tasmanian government is inviting the public to have a say on how the state should accelerate the development, adoption and export of fossil fuel alternatives including renewable hydrogen, green methanol, and advanced biofuels.

Tasmania’s minister for energy and renewables, Nick Duigan, unveiled on Monday a draft of the state’s Future Clean Fuels Strategy, opening it up for two months of public consultation via a survey that will close on 4 July 2025.

The draft strategy lays out ways to reduce fossil fuel dependence across the state’s transport and industry, and support Tasmania’s legislated target of net zero emissions (or lower) from 2030.

The draft further develops efforts to support increasing Tasmania’s fuel security by reducing its reliance on imported fossil fuels, while still maintaining the competitiveness of local industries and providing economic opportunities across the state.

Duigan says the release of the draft strategy is also an important step in reaching the state’s renewable energy plans through the end of the decade, and beyond.

“The draft Strategy sets a vision to capitalise on our renewable energy sector to accelerate the production and use of clean fuels like renewable hydrogen, green methanol and advanced biofuels,” the minister said on Tuesday.

“These fuels will support the decarbonisation of hard-to-abate sectors such as heavy transport, maritime, agriculture and industrial manufacturing.

“Tasmania is already a leader in renewables, and clean fuels like green hydrogen, green methanol and biomethane will play an important role in our energy future.”

The draft strategy builds off the Tasmanian Renewable Hydrogen Action Plan, incorporating learnings made over the past four years since that plan was published.

Priority areas for the strategy include exploring the opportunities to use locally-produced clean fuels in the decarbonisation of key sectors of the economy, supporting current export and domestic clean fuel projects, and ensuring a “robust and supportive” regulatory framework which is “fit-for-purpose” to cover production, supply, and the end use of clean fuels.  

The draft strategy also seeks to prioritise building community and industry awareness of clean fuels, developing the necessary skills, and supporting research and education around the clean fuels industry.

Everyone is invited to respond to the draft strategy, which is available to read in full here.

“We want to hear from businesses and the community on how we can shape this Strategy to maximise the opportunities for Tasmanians—whether that’s securing local jobs, reducing emissions or strengthening fuel security,” said Duigan.

“By working together, we can ensure Tasmania remains at the forefront of the global energy transition while keeping costs down and making the most of our state’s renewable energy advantage.”

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