Driving SA’s forest trucks to net zero

Efforts to decarbonise freight transport are being accelerated through a State Government supported project aimed at supporting South Australia’s forest industries to reach net-zero targets.

The State Government is investing $200,000 towards the Decarbonising the Freight Task – Driving to Net Zero project, a joint South Australian Forest Products Association (SAFPA) and Tabeel Trading venture.

The funding, provided under the South Australian Wood Fibre and Timber Industry Master Plan, supports the Malinauskas Government’s vision of decarbonising forest freight to further reduce carbon emissions across one of the hardest-to-abate sectors – heavy freight transport. The Malinauskas Government is working side by side with industry to deliver solutions and drive success in this area by delivering low emission vehicles for the Green Triangle.

Forestry is already the ultimate renewable, and this is yet another step the industry is taking to decarbonise its footprints.

The project will include new technologies aimed at reducing reliance on diesel, with the end goal to decarbonise forestry’s freight trucks through electrification, which will deliver substantial carbon savings.

The project presents an opportunity to deliver real, measurable decarbonisation outcomes. Funding will support Stage 1 of the project by developing:

• an evidence-based decarbonisation roadmap for South Australia’s forest freight fleet
• detailed cost-benefit analysis of alternative freight technologies, including the modelling of emission reductions
• a freight logistics and charging/refuelling infrastructure blueprint
• policy, regulatory and investment recommendations aligned to state and national climate targets and Master Plan priorities

Subject to the findings from Stage 1 and the availability of vehicles and infrastructure, Stage 2 will see the project progress to a live demonstration phase to validate modelling results under operational forest freight conditions.

The Decarbonising the Freight Task project aligns with the Master Plan’s goal of developing a clean and green circular economy.

The South Australian Wood Fibre and Timber Industry Master Plan, launched in February 2024, was developed by the Forest Industries Advisory Council of South Australia (FIAC-SA) as part of a State Government election commitment to provide a vision to further grow and develop South Australia’s $3 billion forest industry.

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Source & image credit: Government of South Australia