Blended fuels boost Defence resilience

The Australian Defence Force has begun rolling out low carbon liquid fuel (LCLF) blends across its network in an effort to strengthen fuel resilience.

FILE PHOTO (November 2025): HMAS Ballarat’s MH-60R Seahawk ‘Mako’ takes on fuel during Regional Presence Deployment. Story by Corporal Michael Rogers. Photo by Sub Lieutenant Jake Badior.

This initiative introduces aviation and diesel fuels containing synthetic components to fuel installations nationwide and aligns with the 2026 National Defence Strategy to enhance energy security and operational readiness.

Policy adviser from the Defence Energy Transition Office (DETO) Commander Steve Cole said it was inevitable that Defence would start to use LCLF.

“Australia is increasingly looking to be self-sufficient, so our focus is making sure that Defence is prepared to use these fuels as they become available,” Commander Cole said.

Director General Fuel Capability Brigadier Mark Baldock said diversifying fuel sources was essential to enhancing Defence’s energy security. 

“Supporting domestic renewable fuel production strengthens Australia’s sovereign capability,” Brigadier Baldock said.

“These demonstrations are an important step toward building a more resilient and sustainable energy future for Defence.”

Low carbon liquid fuels are made from sources other than crude oil – be it canola oil, sugar cane, waste oils or forestry residue.

They are chemically indistinguishable from fossil fuels, allowing them to be used without modifications to ADF equipment.

DETO has undertaken certification processes and platform demonstrations of renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuels, including during Exercise Talisman Sabre and the Avalon Air Show.

“A big part of these demonstrations has been taking maintainers and crews of the platforms, planners and decision-makers on a journey to understand we are talking about drop-in replacement fuels that meet the same specifications,” Commander Cole said.

Since then, DETO has focused on adopting certification for ADF platforms to ensure internal assurance processes are met and to facilitate interoperability with partner nations that are also adopting LCLFs. 

All ADF aviation and land assets are now certified to operate on LCLF, with RAAF Base East Sale and the Army Aviation Training Centre already using blended fuel.

Certification of remaining maritime platforms is nearing completion.

Defence also established the Defence Fuels Qualification Centre in partnership with the Defence Science and Technology Group.

This centre will promote fuel-standards awareness, conduct qualification testing and strengthen collaboration with industry to enable sovereign fuel production.

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