The Australian government has allocated approximately $8.5 million in grants to support the research and development of methane abatement technology to reduce methane emissions in Australia.
The Resources Methane Abatement Fund comes as part of the Australian Government’s legislated emissions reductions targets and commitments to the Global Methane Pledge.
In support of the Safeguard Mechanism reforms, universities and other research organisations are expected to use the funding to raise the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of priority methane abatement technologies in Australia’s resource industry.
Minister for Resources and Northern Australia Madeleine King states that once methane abatement technology is commercially available it will help the resources sector achieve net zero emissions by 2050.
“The Australian government is committed to lowering emissions and playing a lead role in helping the world to decarbonise and fight climate change.
“Fugitive emissions from coal and gas projects are responsible for around 29 per cent of Australia’s methane emissions.
“The Albanese Government is determined to lower emissions from the resources sector, and we will work with industry to decarbonise and curb fugitive methane emissions,” said Minister King
This initiative aligns with the international methane mitigation agreement signed by Australia in collaboration with Japan, the Republic of Korea, United States and the European Union at the LNG Producer-Consumer Conference in Tokyo on 18 July 2023.
The Resources Methane Abatement Fund was presented as part of the 2022-23 October Federal Budget.
Australian universities and other research organisations must submit their applications before the closing date on 16 August 2023, 5:00 pm AEST in order to receive funding.