Native Forest Wood Waste removed from Renewable Energy Target

The Albanese Government has acted to restore the exclusion of electricity generated from burning native forest wood waste from eligibility under the Renewable Energy Target.

The decision to amend the Renewable Energy (Electricity) Regulations 2001 takes into account strong and longstanding community views raised in our consultation process, during which over 2900 submissions were received. 

The changes mean that native forest biomass is no longer considered an ‘eligible renewable energy source’ for the purposes of the Renewable Energy Target, and electricity it generates cannot be used to create tradeable Large-scale Generation Certificates.

Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen said the Albanese Government is committed to ensure public confidence that the Renewable Energy Target is delivering genuinely renewable and sustainable forms of energy.

“We have listened to the community and acted to address their concerns,” said Minister Bowen.

The decision of the Abbott Government in 2015 to put native forest wood waste back into the scheme raised considerable concern about potential adverse impacts for native forests but has had no significant uptake.

The regulations are focused on eligibility under the Renewable Energy Target and do not otherwise regulate or restrict sustainable native forest industries. Transitional arrangements have been put in place for one Western Australian facility that had registered to use the energy source.