With oil prices remaining record high, Queensland researchers said agricultural residues could be an economically viable alternative source of fuel within seven years.  

The project, being conducted by the Queensland University of Technology (QUT), aims to produce renewable green transport fuels from agricultural residues, such as sugar cane bagasse, to help increase the viability and profitability of the state’s farmers and rural industries.

Professor James Dale from QUT’s Centre for Tropical Crops and Biocommodities said it is crucial to find alternative sources of fuel to decrease Australia’s reliance on fossil fuels, and the agricultural residues conversion technology could soon become a reality.

“It’s possible a plant could be ready in two to three years and a viable biofuel industry is a real possibility five years after that.

“QUT is pulling together the expertise and intellectual property to make it happen and it has the potential to produce enough transport fuel for Queensland," Prof Dale said.

Prof Dale was one of the experts who spoke at a public forum on biofuels in Mackay, which discussed the challenges in making biofuels commercially viable and developing a biomass-to-biofuels industry in Queensland.