Wilmar Sugar and Renewables reaffirmed its commitment to the renewable energy space by joining industry peers at the Rural Press Club of Queensland event: The Future of Sugar and Bioenergy in Queensland.
The event, held in Brisbane on 15 May, brought together influential voices from across the sugar, energy, and sustainability sectors to explore the expanding role of sugarcane in Queensland’s renewable energy landscape. Wilmar delegates were among the key participants, engaging in forward-looking discussions on how the industry can drive innovation and support the world’s decarbonisation goals through bioenergy production.
The highlight was a panel discussion featuring Alan Nicholl (CEO, Licella), Lucy Carter (Partner, L.E.K. Consulting), Jesse Scott (Head of Agri-Energy, GrainCorp), and Ash Salardini (CEO, Australian Sugar Manufacturers). The panel explored the potential of the sugar industry to power Queensland’s future through sustainable aviation fuel, biodiesel, biomethane, and cogeneration.
One of the standout insights was the opportunity for the sugar industry to deliver an additional 2.1-terawatt hours of synchronous renewable power annually through cogeneration — enough to power around 420,000 Queensland homes for a year. This could reduce wholesale electricity prices by up to 15% and generate billions in savings for households and businesses.
The transformation also promises to create more than 20,000 regional jobs, particularly in sugar-growing communities where Wilmar operates — reinforcing the industry’s role in regional economic development.
“For Wilmar, this event was a valuable opportunity to meet with peers and policymakers, and to reinforce our position as a leader in renewable energy from sugar by-products,” said General Manager Commercial Mark Greenwood.
“It’s clear that sugarcane is more than just a food crop — it’s a powerful enabler of clean energy and regional growth.”
As Queensland’s only bioethanol producer and one of the largest generators of renewable electricity from sugarcane fibre, Wilmar is uniquely positioned to help drive the state’s clean energy transition.
Mark added, “Wilmar is studying further investments in renewable energy and renewable fuels with funding assistance from the Queensland Government Bioenergy fund."
“There’s still a lot of work ahead of us but the imperative to decarbonise creates exciting potential for Wilmar and the sugar industry."
Australian Sugar Manufacturers CEO Ash Salardini underscored the importance of government collaboration: “In a world increasingly defined by geopolitical tensions, securing our food and energy future is not a ‘nice to have’ — it’s a national imperative. The government must work with industry to capture these opportunities, not just as an energy security measure, but as a tool for regional economic development.”
The event also highlighted the need for policy certainty, infrastructure investment, and cross-sector collaboration — between growers, sugar manufacturers, energy providers, and government — to unlock the full potential of bioenergy.
As the world moves towards a low-carbon future, Wilmar remains committed to leading the way in sustainable sugar and renewable energy. Events like this not only showcase the industry’s potential but also reaffirm our shared responsibility to build a cleaner, more resilient energy future — one powered by sugar.
