Near-term renewable gas priorities to 2030

The official consultation question

Q13 · §3.1(c) · paper page 20

Are there objectives that should explicitly take precedence in the near term (e.g. to 2030), even if this requires trade-offs with other objectives? Please explain your reasoning.

Shelby’s response

To 2030, Shelby recommends prioritising modular upgrades to existing anaerobic digestion and biogas facilities, alongside the commissioning and reliable operation of small and medium regional projects. Early support should help increase saleable gas output, commercialise suitable co-products and deliver useful domestic energy supply with measurable emissions reductions.

The immediate tasks should be to:

establish dependable long-term purchasing and revenue-support arrangements;

provide targeted assistance for upgrades and new projects;

clarify approvals, connection responsibilities and costs;

enable sustainable feedstock contracts;

implement usable certification, emissions accounting and co-product market-access pathways.

This may mean directing more early deployment support towards established technologies and achievable production, while maintaining dedicated support for emerging technologies and R&D. Larger developments should proceed alongside this regional rollout.

Australia should remain open to different renewable gases without delaying practical biogas, biomethane and co-product measures until every pathway has an identical framework. Environmental safeguards and community engagement should apply from the outset.

Frequently asked questions

What is Shelby’s position on near-term renewable gas priorities to 2030?

To 2030, Shelby recommends prioritising existing-facility upgrades and reliable small and medium regional plants alongside larger developments. Revenue, capital assistance, approvals, feedstock and certification should progress together, with safeguards applying from the outset.

What should a project team read alongside this answer?

Read the linked commercial guides and original question. Separate the response’s recommendations and illustrative assumptions from source-reported operating evidence.

Sources & References

• Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, National Renewable Gas Policy consultation

  Publication: Date not verified

  Observation period: Not recorded

  Relevant page / section: Claim-level locator not yet verified

  Last link / title verification: 2026-10-11

  Publisher link checked; individual claims, costs and regulatory applicability still require review.

  Check scope and current applicability before relying on this reference.

• Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, National Renewable Gas Policy consultation paper

  Publication: 2026-08

  Observation period: Australia; 2026 consultation

  Relevant page / section: Consultation questions; use answer-specific paper page and question reference

  Last link / title verification: 2026-10-11

  Publisher link checked; individual claims, costs and regulatory applicability still require review.

  Source for questions/context, not proof of an implemented support mechanism. Question text attribution: Commonwealth, CC BY 4.0, as noted in Shelby’s supplied consultation response.

• Creative Commons, Attribution 4.0 International

  Publication: Date not verified

  Observation period: Not recorded

  Relevant page / section: Claim-level locator not yet verified

  Last link / title verification: 2026-10-11

  Publisher link checked; individual claims, costs and regulatory applicability still require review.

  Check scope and current applicability before relying on this reference.