2025 Agenda

• Identifying sector-specific barriers to accelerate emissions reductions in complex industries
• Aligning technology deployment with workforce and infrastructure planning to enable scalable decarbonisation
• Integrating public and private finance to support innovation in emissions-intensive sectors

• Leveraging cross-country production networks to optimise resources and reduce environmental impact
• Navigating jurisdictional differences in sustainability policy, stakeholder expectations and investor priorities
• Aligning global operations with Orica’s climate goals and community engagement commitments

This panel examines the role of the 2035 NDC, Safeguard Mechanism, ACCUs and emerging SMCs will play in shaping decarbonisation pathways for heavy industry, and how can businesses strategically engage with these evolving frameworks to unlock investment and drive long-term emissions reduction.

• How do government and industry emissions reduction targets align - and stack up?
• What policies will be most significant to speeding industry decarbonisation in Australia?
• What policies aren't helping, and could be improved?

• Implementing electrification and renewable energy solutions to reduce scope 1 and 2 emissions in mining operations
• Collaborating across sectors to scale up low-carbon technologies through strategic partnerships and sustainable financing
• Overcoming challenges in scaling up decarbonisation initiatives while maintaining efficiency and reducing operational risk

• Targeting net zero Scope 1 and 2 emissions for non-refining operations by 2030 through energy efficiency and process optimisation
• Aiming for a 10% reduction in emissions intensity at Geelong Refinery by 2030 via infrastructure upgrades and improved energy management
• Investing in renewable energy projects and alternative fuels to support long-term decarbonisation goals

• Educating value chains on emissions intensity to shift market preferences toward lower-carbon products
• Embedding emissions requirements into procurement and design to support innovative material choices
• Aligning policy and reporting mechanisms to increase accountability for scope 3 emissions across sectors

• Integrating recycled timber into particleboard and MDF production to lower embodied carbon
• Building circular supply chains to meet market demand for low-impact construction materials
• Responding to rising interest in ESG-aligned products as customers weigh value over green premiums

What is the best approach to trialling emerging technologies like hydrogen, biofuels and CCS while remaining technology agnostic?

• How can companies reduce investment risk while navigating evolving policy landscapes and incentive schemes?
• Which tools and metrics help prioritise technologies that deliver long-term emissions cuts with manageable lifecycle costs?
• What role does external finance play in choosing technologies?
• How effective are high temperature heat pumps, MVR and thermal storage (e-TES) for load flexibility?

• Supporting biofuels to drive sustainable energy solutions through effective policy frameworks
• Developing long-term policy certainty to attract investment and accelerate biofuel industry growth
• Harmonising regulations to encourage biofuel innovation and increase market competitiveness

• Assessing the risk and opportunities in PPAs for energy intensive industry to ensure they will be worthwhile
• Structuring agreements with retail and wholesale contracts to find the best solution
• Managing price volatility and lead times in PPA negotiations to ensure sustainable, cost-effective energy access

• An unprecedent challenge: Decarbonising WA’s economic engine room
• Government facilitation: connecting the Pilbara’s world class renewable resources to industrial demand
• Unlocking investment to deliver lasting regional benefits

• Replacing air-fuel combustion with oxyfuel technology to lower CO₂ emissions by up to 30%
• Utilising onsite oxygen generation to achieve up to 30% energy savings in furnace operations
• Reducing nitrogen oxide emissions by up to 80% to meet stringent environmental standards
• Finding and flexing all the major levers on the pathway to net zero

• Replacing traditional cement with low-carbon alternatives to cut emissions in construction
• Advancing sustainable building materials to help meet industry emission reduction targets
• Scaling innovative concrete solutions to reduce reliance on carbon-intensive processes

• Replacing carbon-intensive processes with zero-emissions alternatives like hydrogen-based and electrochemical reduction
• Accelerating pre-feasibility work to commercialise breakthrough green steel technologies
• Integrating renewable energy and hydrogen supply to power low-emissions production
• Leveraging local resources and infrastructure to establish a competitive green iron export industry

• Integrating biomethane into existing gas networks without major infrastructure changes
• Sourcing reliable biomethane at high volumes for industrial use
• Leveraging government funding to scale biogas projects

• Identifying eligible technologies to target scope 1 and 2 emissions in regional industrial facilities
• Integrating electrification and energy efficiency solutions to enhance operational sustainability
• Utilising ITS funding to advance technology readiness and commercial deployment of low-emission processes

• Trialling battery electric and hydrogen trucks to replace diesel in freight networks
• Supporting refuelling and charging infrastructure to enable zero-emissions logistics
• Partnering with fleet operators to scale low-carbon transport solutions across supply chains

• How can companies effectively reduce Scope 1 emissions to meet Safeguard Mechanism targets?
• What role can fuel management and operational efficiency play in cutting heavy equipment emissions?
• Which technologies and partnerships are most promising for scaling carbon capture and alternative fuel solutions?
• How can on-site renewables and energy storage be deployed to lower Scope 2 emissions?

• Evaluating battery chemistries to align with industrial decarbonisation goals
• Matching battery technologies to specific industrial operational requirements
• Integrating battery systems to enhance energy efficiency and reduce emissions
• Addressing lifecycle considerations to ensure sustainability and cost-effectiveness

• Replacing fossil fuels with hydrogen to reduce process emissions in ammonia and fertiliser production
• Capturing and storing process CO₂ to lower emissions from existing high-temperature industrial infrastructure
• Navigating cost and policy hurdles to scale up CCS and hydrogen deployment in hard to abate sectors

• How can we reimagine legacy assets to transform old infrastructure into engines for decarbonisation?
• What unconventional pathways are emerging at the intersection of old and new technologies, and how can these be used — from geothermal retrofits to low-carbon redevelopment?
• In what ways can cross-sector collaboration unlock shared value and scalable decarbonisation solutions through repurposing legacy assets?

09:00    Designing an effective decarbonisation roadmap for industrial operations

• Outlining Australia’s carbon and energy context to frame strategic decision-making
• Understanding why carbon reduction is critical for operational resilience, regulatory compliance, and market competitiveness
• Defining what a decarbonisation roadmap is and the value it brings to long-term planning
• Linking the roadmap to corporate strategy to ensure alignment with business objectives and stakeholder priorities

10:30     Morning Tea

11:00     Identifying and evaluating technical solutions to reduce industrial emissions

• Assessing energy-intensive equipment and systems—boilers, refrigeration, motors, compressed air, process heat—within industrial facilities
• Exploring practical measures: low-cost, quick-win interventions versus high-capex, transformative upgrades
• Reviewing example projects that have delivered measurable reductions in energy use and carbon emissions
• Understanding performance metrics and measurement methods for solution effectiveness

12:30     Lunch

13:30     Continuing the technical solutions assessment

• Comparing emerging technologies and process optimisation strategies for industrial decarbonisation
• Analysing lifecycle costs, efficiency gains, and carbon reduction potential for different solutions
• Considering operational impacts, maintenance requirements, and integration challenges during implementation

15:00     Afternoon tea

15:30     Building the business case for decarbonisation initiatives

• Structuring financial models to justify investment in carbon reduction projects
• Demonstrating alignment between the roadmap, operational priorities, and long-term sustainability goals
• Developing a portfolio approach—sequencing projects for maximum impact and feasibility
• Establishing next steps to transition from planning to execution and embedding continuous improvement processes

17:00     Concludes