Australian timber industry news

Finland’s economy has long been rooted in its forests, but in 2026, the sector sits at the intersection of energy transition, environmental regulation, and global market uncertainty. Source: ResourceWise A glance at Finland’s real-time energy production reveals a system increasingly diversified across nuclear, hydro, and renewables. Yet beneath this transition lies a quieter but equally critical story: the evolving role of forestry in powering both industry and energy systems. Finland’s energy picture depends heavily on whether we look at electricity output or total primary energy consumption. In electricity, nuclear power provides a stable base of about 4,200 MW, while hydropower has around 3,200 MW of capacity but often produces closer to 1,500 MW, depending on rainfall and snowmelt. Wind capacity has grown rapidly to about 8,000 MW, but actual output varies sharply, creating grid-balancing challenges during swings between over- and undercapacity. The broader energy balance tells a different story. When heat, fuels, and industrial energy are included, bioenergy remains Finland’s largest energy source, at roughly 135 TWh, ahead of nuclear energy at about 105 TWh. Oil remains significant at around 70 TWh, while hydro and wind contribute roughly 25 TWh and 20 TWh, respectively. This matters for forestry because forest-based energy, wood fuels, black liquor, and residues, remains central to Finland’s energy system, even as its role is slowly declining due to electrification, electric boilers, heat pumps, and growth in wind and nuclear power. The Finnish forestry industry is currently navigating a cyclical downturn: Industrial roundwood purchases are down roughly 20% year-on-year Pulpwood prices have fallen sharply—by up to 39% over eight months Sawn timber production dropped 20% in early 2026 due to weak demand and weather disruptions   This correction follows a period of overheated markets and is now compounded by subdued global demand particularly in Europe and China. Pulp markets remain soft, with producers curtailing output and delaying investments in new capacity. At the same time, logistics challenges such as rising fuel costs and disruptions to global shipping routes are increasing costs for Finland’s export-heavy forest industry. With freight prices surging and supply chains strained, margins across the value chain are under pressure. Environmental regulation is becoming a defining force in Finnish forestry. A new government proposal would restrict logging during birds’ nesting seasons, introducing legally binding requirements for biodiversity protection. Logging could be limited for several months annually in sensitive habitats, potentially tightening timber supply. At the same time: Environmental support funding is being reduced and more narrowly targeted Over 1 million hectares of private forest are under “silent conservation,” reflecting voluntary biodiversity protection by landowners   These developments highlight a structural shift: forestry is no longer judged solely on output, but increasingly on ecological impact, carbon balance, and amenity values. Despite headwinds, the Finnish forestry sector continues to demonstrate resilience and adaptability: Companies like Westas have improved profitability through operational efficiency and targeted investments. Many private sawmill companies have modernized their facilities and increased capacity simultaneously. AI and digital tools are transforming forest management, enabling more precise planning and damage detection Meanwhile, state forestry operator Metsähallitus reported record financial performance in 2025 while expanding conservation efforts and renewable energy development. This reflects a broader trend: integrating commercial forestry with sustainability and land-use diversification. Finland’s forestry industry is entering a new phase less defined by volume growth and more by efficiency, sustainability, and integration into the broader bioeconomy. Key trends to watch include: Continued pressure on pulp markets and short fiber pulp producers and limited new capacity investments amid increasing costs Increasing regulatory constraints tied to biodiversity and climate goals Declining role of wood-based fuels in energy production Growing importance of technology and data in forest management   In many ways, Finland’s forests remain as vital as ever, but their role is changing. No longer just a source of raw materials, they are becoming a strategic asset in climate policy, energy systems, and sustainable land use.

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Södra is taking the next step in its innovation journey with the launch of Södra blue S – a new type of paper pulp that combines softwood fibres with oat hulls from Swedish grain processing. Source: Timberbiz The initiative is a concrete example of how Södra explores new solutions while using resources more efficiently to create value and contribute to a more circular future. Södra blue S has been developed to meet the growing demand for renewable materials and more circular use of resources. Drawing on its extensive experience in forest-based raw materials and more than 10 years of developing technologies to utilise residual streams from other value chains, Södra is now broadening its fibre base without com-promising on quality. The new process makes it possible to combine forest fibres and agrofibres directly in the pulp process, enabling Södra to increase yield and improve strength properties. Pilot trials show that blue S delivers enhanced strength properties and good runnability in paper production. Several trials have been conducted at Södra Cell Värö with very positive results. Towards the end of 2025, the conditions were established to enable campaign-based volumes. “Södra blue S demonstrates what happens when we challenge our own assumptions. By combining forest raw materials with oat hulls from a local partner such as Berte Qvarn, we increase resource efficiency and create value across two key basic industries. The results show that the technology works and that the pulp is of high quality. This is a concrete step towards the circular fibre solutions of the future,” said Annica Ahlstedt Larsson, Head of The oat hulls used to produce blue S come from the local food producer Berte Qvarn, located just south of Värö. Their local origin means shorter transport distances while making raw material flows more resilient by building on industries in the surrounding region. The collaboration also creates new value between two industries that have traditionally operated side by side – forestry and agriculture – as a by-product from oat production is now given a clear function in paper pulp. Oat hulls, which previously had limited areas of use, are thus transformed into a valuable raw material that contributes to increased re-source efficiency and opens up new possibilities for future fibre solutions. “This collaboration shows what becomes possible when we look beyond our own value chains. By combining expertise, local residual streams and a shared ambition to develop new solutions, we take important steps towards the circular systems of the future. Together with Södra, we are exploring new ways of creating value from existing resources and contributing to long-term sustainable development,” said Olof Stenström, CEO, Berte Qvarn.

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The Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) in the UK is urging more women to consider a career in construction as the latest figures reveal an increasing number of women are pursuing construction training. Source: Timberbiz Using statistics from the Department for Education, CITB has found that the number of women starting construction apprenticeships has jumped from 1,450 in 2018 to 2,410 in 2025. During the same period, the number of women completing a construction apprenticeship increased from 340 to 910. While the growing increase of women starting apprenticeships in the construction industry and completing them is a positive outlook on building the future, there is a push for the introduction of policies that are aimed at promoting gender equality to further shrink the gender and skills gap. CITB funds training and supports work placements through its Onsite Experience hubs, creating a talent pipeline to meet the needs of local construction employers and enabling construction career opportunities for people from local communities. As part of its commission, CITB works with The Skills Centre, which is running lots of activities throughout March to encourage women into the industry. As a result of CITB’s investment in The Skills Centre’s Onsite Experience hub, 182 women have been trained to secure employment in construction. Recently, The Women and Work All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) released the ‘Women and Work APPG Report 2025′ focusing on strategies to break down barriers that stop women from get-ting into construction. With significant demand for skilled workers in the construction industry, as shown by CITB’s Construction Workforce Outlook that highlights the need for 47,000 additional workers every year to meet demand, diversity in construction should not be viewed as a challenge to be managed, but a solution to the skills gap. “It’s really encouraging to see the continued increase of women starting and completing construction apprenticeships,” Deb Madden, Executive Director, Customer Engagement and Operations at CITB said. “It’s important that, as an industry, we retain these women and ensure their apprenticeships translate into long-term, secure job opportunities. “Across the industry, we need to establish a culture that ensures it seeks to understand and meet the needs of people of all backgrounds. We need employers to establish clear and accessible pathways for a diverse range of candidates to learn and progress, making it more attractive for them to stay in the industry, and ensure all employees have a good work-life balance.”

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Nearly $30,000 has been spent cleaning up a single illegal oil dumping incident in Tasmania’s north-west, as the state’s forestry agency warns hazardous waste is increasingly being abandoned in public production forests. Pulse Tasmania Sustainable Timber Tasmania says petrochemicals, asbestos, tyres, vehicles and clinical waste are among materials being dumped on permanent timber production zone land across the state. The recent oil dumping incident triggered a major clean-up, with crews using absorbent materials to stop the spill spreading into soils, vegetation and drainage lines. Over the past three financial years, illegal dumping has cost the agency an average of $39,000 a year to inspect, manage and remove. The single oil incident accounted for almost $30,000 of clean-up costs on its own. Suzette Weeding, general manager of conservation and land management at Sustainable Timber Tasmania, said the dumping was draining resources. “Illegal dumping places a growing strain on Tasmania’s public forests and the resources required to manage them,” Ms Weeding said. “While Sustainable Timber Tasmania already undertakes significant effort each year to respond to unlawful waste disposal, the recent oil dumping incident has materially increased that impact.” Ms Weeding said the cost was not just financial. “These incidents pose a serious risk to forest ecosystems, waterways and wildlife,” she said. The agency said each clean-up required specialist resources and pulled staff away from planned forest management work. Sustainable Timber Tasmania is working with Tasmania Police, the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) and other agencies to investigate incidents and deter further offending.

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The Housing Industry Association (HIA) has welcomed the Commonwealth and Queensland Government’s announcement of more than $2 billion agreement to support the delivery of up to 51,000 new homes, including 20,000 exclusively for first home buyers across the state. Source: Timberbiz Under the agreement, more than 20,000 homes will be reserved for first home buyers, supported by a $2 billion Australian Government contribution, including $399 million in grants and $1.6 billion in concessional loans for essential infrastructure. The Queens-land Government will match grant funding with a further $399 million investment. The announcement forms part of the Albanese Government’s commitment to work with states and territories to help deliver up to 100,000 homes for first home buyers, with a focus on unlocking housing supply through targeted enabling infrastructure funding. HIA Managing Director, Jocelyn Martin, said the announcement recognised that increasing housing supply was critical to improving affordability and one of the largest impediments to delivery of more housing faster, includes boosting funding for “key last mile” trunk infrastructure. “This announcement recognises that the fastest and most effective way to help first home buyers is to unlock more housing supply, and that means removing the infrastructure and planning barriers holding projects back,” Ms Martin said. “HIA has consistently called for targeted investment that unlocks land, accelerates de-livery and supports industry to build at scale, and we welcome the Commonwealth’s continued focus on supply and work with State and Territory Governments to make this happen. “Builders often tell us that getting this key ‘last mile’ infrastructure is what holds many projects back from being delivered in a more-timely fashion, today’s announcement is a key plank in addressing that.” HIA Executive Director Queensland, Michael Roberts, said builders across the state were ready to deliver more homes but continued to face constraints that delayed projects and increase costs. “Queensland builders are ready to deliver, but too many projects are slowed by infra-structure constraints and delays outside their control,” Mr Roberts said. “Targeting Priority Development Areas such as Mount Peter, Southern Thornlands and Waraba is a positive step that will help bring forward new housing opportunities in key growth regions. “Any investment that helps unlock land, bring forward essential services and get homes to market sooner will make a real difference for Queensland first home buyers, and ease broader supply constraints. “Getting the fundamentals right – land, infrastructure and approvals, is the key to improving housing affordability in Queensland,” Mr Roberts said. HIA has long advocated for coordinated action across all levels of government to boost housing supply, including planning reform, streamlined approvals, investment in infra-structure and measures to expand the construction workforce. “This welcome funding sends a clear signal to industry that governments are serious about boosting housing supply, and builders are ready to get on with the job of delivering more homes for Queenslanders.” Mr Roberts said.

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In a win for the trucking industry, the federal budget has kept the industry’s fuel tax credits despite a Productivity Commission plan to abolish the scheme. Source: Timberbiz Australian Trucking Association Chair Mark Parry thanked the Government for listening to the industry’s response to the Productivity Commission plan, which recommended phasing out fuel tax credits for on-road heavy vehicles over 10 years. “The ATA carried out a strong, evidence-based campaign to retain fuel tax credits, sup-ported by detailed modelling,” Mr Parry said. “I’d like to thank Treasurer Jim Chalmers, Transport and Infrastructure Minister Catherine King and Assistant Climate Change Minister Josh Wilson for considering the industry’s views,” he said. The fuel tax credits system reduces the effective fuel tax rate paid by trucking operators, so they pay based on the cost of heavy vehicles’ use of the roads. This is called the road user charge. The Government has temporarily reduced the road user charge to zero in response to the Iran war, but the charge is currently scheduled to go back to 32.4 cents per litre on 1 July. Mr Parry said the fuel tax credit system reduced the cost of freight for everyone in Australia, as well as our rural exporters. “Removing fuel tax credits would increase costs for industry and hard-pressed Australian households, who face continued cost of living pressures as the effect of the high fuel prices flows across the economy,” he said. “Removing fuel tax credits would also hit trucking businesses hard. They have already paid a 19% increase in fuel tax over the last three years, and the cost of diesel has increased dramatically because of the war. “Despite the industry’s success in arguing for support measures including the Fair Work Commission’s fuel cost recovery order, it will take many businesses a long time to recover. “The Government’s immediate focus should now be on considering whether to extend the temporary reduction in the road user charge for another three months,” he said. Mr Parry said the Productivity Commission’s plan would not achieve its goal of encouraging decarbonisation. “Abolishing fuel tax credits would not address the engineering reality that there is no single technology available to replace diesel engines,” he said. “Many regional communities rely on trucking operators to move and deliver all their daily necessities. Because this requires diesel engines, the commission’s approach would just be an unavoidable increase in tax. “For those businesses that do have an alternative to diesel, the effective tax increase would reduce their financial capacity to invest in new vehicles and equipment. “The ATA looks forward to working with the Government on measures that would be effective at reducing the industry emissions and Australia’s reliance on imported fossil fuels, including a voucher scheme to reduce the up-front cost of electrification or alter-native fuel options, a low carbon fuel standard to encourage the use of renewable diesel, and support for high productivity and low emission vehicles. “Measures like these would complement the Government’s very welcome fuel security and resilience plan, which will increase Australia’s diesel and jet fuel reserves to 50 days,” he said.

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The New Zealand Timber Industry Federation (NZTIF) says the recently concluded Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with India is already delivering encouraging early results, with increased enquiry levels being reported by New Zealand sawmills. Source: Timberbiz NZTIF members are experiencing a noticeable uplift in interest from Indian buyers for New Zealand sawn timber products, signalling growing market confidence and improved access following the agreement. “We are already seeing tangible benefits from the New Zealand – India FTA,” said NZTIF. “Sawmills are reporting a rise in enquiries for sawn product from India, which is a positive early indicator of demand growth in what has the potential to become significant and expanding market.” India represents a major opportunity for New Zealand’s timber industry, driven by strong construction demand, urbanisation, and an increasing preference for sustainably sourced wood products. NZTIF noted that while it is still early days, the immediate lift in enquiries demonstrates the importance of trade agreements in unlocking new opportunities for New Zealand manufacturers and exporters. “These early signals reinforce the value of the agreement for the forestry and wood processing sector. Continued engagement, alongside strong industry capability, will be key to converting interest into long-term trade relationships,” NZTIF said. The Federation will continue to work with members and government to maximise the benefits of the agreement and support the growth of New Zealand’s timber exports into India.

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Now that South Australia’s $16 million Forestry Centre of Excellence is complete, it is putting Mount Gambier on the international map of forestry research, innovation and collaboration. Source: Timberbiz A special showcase was underway at the Centre last week, providing industry, stakeholders and policymakers with the opportunity to experience first-hand the education, training and research precinct. “Timber remains our most important sustainable construction material,” said Professor Jeff Morrell Director of the Forestry Centre of Excellence. “The showcase shows how the Centre is already helping improve sound management and processing of this critical national resource. “The Centre’s first showcase highlights our many industry-supported research projects while providing guidance for future research directions to help the Green Triangle Region remain a leader in plantation forestry.” The program included field demonstrations, networking, and industry research presentations, featuring keynote speeches, applied research case studies, and sessions focused on key issues shaping the future of Australia’s plantation forestry sector. Attendees gained insights into cutting-edge work supporting the sustainability of the forestry sector, with discussions covering new technologies to improve grower productivity, timber processing innovation, climate resilience, silviculture, forest health monitoring, biosecurity, and workforce safety. The centre is a key project of the Malinauskas Labor Government in its long-term commitment to deliver stronger forest and timber industries for South Australia. “The Forestry Centre of Excellence is an impressive space that will play an important role in the future of our state’s forestry sector,” south Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas said. “This purpose-built precinct demonstrates our commitment to strengthen our multi-billion-dollar forestry sector by supporting innovation, research and skills development. “It brings together local, national and international experts across forestry research and development, enhancing the region’s role as a global leader in the sector. “By investing in projects like this, we are ensuring South Australia remains at the fore-front of industry innovation, supporting local jobs, and building a stronger and more self-sustainable economy.” The Centre of Excellence brings together government, industry and research partners in a 10-year collaboration led by the State Government and Adelaide University, sup-porting innovation, sustainability and workforce capability across one of Australia’s most important plantation forest regions in the Limestone Coast. Major works were completed in February and since then a new research lab and remaining offices and meeting rooms have been delivered and fully fit-out. Funding for the Forestry Centre of Excellence is part of a $21 million investment by the Malinauskas Labor Government over the past four years into the forestry sector. The building was constructed using plantation timber from the region and showcases a variety of timber products, including cross-laminated timber (CLT), engineered hardwood, and panelling. The facility accommodates the Green Triangle Forest Industries Hub and Tree Breeding Australia, strengthening collaboration across research, education and industry and reinforcing Mount Gambier’s role as a national centre for forestry innovation. The Forestry Centre of Excellence was previously operating since 2024 within temporary accommodation but is now permanently based alongside Adelaide University Mount Gambier, the Mount Gambier Technical College and Mount Gambier TAFE, securing strong collaborative pathways between research, skills development and industry.

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Forest & Wood Communities Australia Chair Steve Dobbyns says the NSW Government’s justification for the Great Koala National Park is increasingly contradicted by its own scientific evidence and appears to be driven more by carbon credit generation than koala conservation. Source: Timberbiz “The NSW Government’s Environment Minister Penny Sharpe continues to promote the Great Koala National Park as essential for koala conservation, yet its own scientific evidence does not support the claim that regulated native forestry is causing widespread koala decline on the Mid North Coast,” Mr Dobbyns said. “Instead, the proposal is increasingly being driven by the prospect of carbon credits under the proposed Improved Native Forest Management (INFM) methodology – a scheme that raises serious concerns about carbon leakage, displaced timber production and questionable net climate benefits.” Mr Dobbyns said years of NSW Government-funded research failed to support the political claim that ending native forestry would “save koalas”. “Research undertaken by NSW DPI Forest Science and reviewed through the NSW Natural Resources Commission found no statistically significant decline in koala density following selective timber harvesting in north-east NSW state forests,” he said. “The NRC reported koala densities remained stable in harvested forests, koalas continued using harvested areas after operations, and any declines observed during the study period were more strongly associated with drought and climate stress, particularly across the National Park estate. “Published peer-reviewed research reached the same conclusion – regulated native forestry operations in north-east NSW did not reduce koala density.” Mr Dobbyns said the NSW Baseline Koala Survey further confirmed koalas remain widespread throughout production forests on the Mid North Coast with estimates of 274,000 koalas across the state (with a 95% confidence interval of 231,000–320,000). “This is the critical point the Government keeps ignoring – its own science demonstrates koalas and regulated forestry are already coexisting across the landscape,” he said. “The assertion that state forests must be converted into national parks to prevent koala extinction is simply not supported by the available evidence.” Mr Dobbyns also noted that more than half of the 176,000 hectares of state forest earmarked for inclusion in the Great Koala National Park is already managed primarily for conservation through existing environmental exclusions, old-growth reserves, rainforest protections, stream buffers and conservation zoning and reserve systems. “A large proportion of these forests were already effectively protected from harvesting activity,” he said. “The public is being led to believe all of this forest is under intensive logging pressure, which is simply untrue.” Mr Dobbyns said the Government had now explicitly linked the park’s creation to the proposed INFM carbon methodology, exposing what he described as the “fundamental flaw” in the proposal – carbon leakage. “Stopping native forestry in NSW does not stop Australia needing timber,” he said. “We will still need hardwood for construction, pallets, poles, flooring, fencing and packaging. Since harvesting has halted across these forests, that demand has simply shifts elsewhere. “That ‘somewhere else’ includes increased logging on neighbouring private property, increased pressure on remaining state forests, interstate harvesting, greater reliance on imports from countries with weaker environmental standards and substantially higher transport emissions. “In carbon accounting this is known as leakage – and it can completely undermine the claimed climate benefits of the project.” Mr Dobbyns said the Government was effectively proposing to stop harvesting in NSW state forests, claim carbon credits for “avoided emissions”, while timber production and associated emissions simply move elsewhere to meet unchanged demand. “If replacement timber comes from other native forests, imported hardwood products or more emissions-intensive materials like steel, concrete and plastics, then the claimed emissions reductions may be entirely negated,” he said. “The atmosphere does not care whether emissions occur in NSW, Queensland, Victoria, Southeast Asia or South America. “A carbon project that simply exports timber production and emissions elsewhere is not delivering genuine global abatement.” Mr Dobbyns said the proposal also ignored the role of sustainably managed native forests and harvested wood products in long-term carbon storage. “Under sustainable forestry systems, harvested forests regrow, more carbon is absorbed and timber products continue storing carbon for decades,” he said. “Meanwhile, alternative materials such as steel, aluminium and concrete carry substantially higher embodied emissions.” Mr Dobbyns warned the proposal risked destabilising regional economies across the Mid North Coast. “The Great Koala National Park increasingly appears to be based on monetising public forests through carbon credits rather than evidence-based conservation,” he said. “That risks undermining regional manufacturing jobs, destabilising timber supply, increasing reliance on imports and reducing Australia’s sovereign hardwood capability.” “All while the Government’s own science shows koalas remain present in managed forests and that broader threats such as bushfire, drought, disease, dog attacks, cars and habitat fragmentation are more significant pressures.” Mr Dobbyns said Forest & Wood Communities Australia supported genuine conservation measures based on evidence, not ideology. “Protecting high-value habitat and improving koala outcomes are legitimate goals,” he said. “But the current proposal increasingly relies on a simplistic political narrative — stop forestry, save koalas, generate carbon credits. “The evidence does not support that framing.” “A more credible approach would focus on targeted habitat protection, stronger fire management, plantation expansion, continued ecological monitoring and sustainable multiple-use forest management. “Otherwise, the Great Koala National Park risks becoming less a conservation initiative and more a carbon-credit land-use transfer with uncertain climate benefits and significant regional economic consequences.”

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ForestrySA has appointed South Australia Forest Products Association’s Nathan Paine as its new CEO. Mr Paine will start in his new role on 22 June following five years as CEO of the South Australia Forest Products Association where he has been highly successful in raising the profile of the state’s sustainable plantation industry. Source: Timberbiz His appointment by the ForestrySA Board follows a comprehensive recruitment process that attracted a significant field of highly qualified candidates. It comes amid a period of leadership changes in both the Australian Forest Products Association and the Tasmanian Forest Products Association. AFPA CEO Diana Hallam recently resigned to pursue other interests and Tasmanian Forest Products Association CEO Nick Steel has indicated he will not renew his contract after six years leading Tasmania’s peak body. ForestrySA says Mr Paine is well-placed to lead the organisation in its management of more than 10,000 hectares of sustainable pine plantation in the Mount Lofty Ranges, and its stewardship and protection of the more than 16,000 hectares of native forest in the Mount Lofty Ranges and Limestone Coast regions. “ForestrySA plays a critical role in the management of South Australia’s forest industries, from the Adelaide Hills where pine forests are both valued recreational spaces and productive plantations, to the forest industry powerhouse of the Limestone Coast region,” Mr Paine said. “With forecast demand for wood fibre expected to quadruple over the next 25 years, there is a need and an opportunity to grow ForestrySA’s plantation estate in order to meet that demand. “The opportunity for the state’s forest industries is not just to grow the forest estates that will build the houses of tomorrow, but also to educate the community about the vital importance of timber products in our economy.” Forest Industries Minister Clare Scriven said she looked forward to continuing their work together in growing SA’s forest industries. “Nathan has been outstanding in his five years as CEO of the South Australian Forest Products Association, and his depth of knowledge of timber industries and insights into forest industries more broadly will be of significant value when it comes to managing the state’s pine plantations,” she said. “As South Australia continues to grow both its economy and its ambition into the future, I am confident Nathan Paine will be an effective and reliable partner in the delivery of stronger and more prosperous forest industries across the state.”

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An upgrade to Tigercat’s latest telematics firmware has added functionality, an improved user interface, and taken advantage of the latest advanced engine diagnostics capabilities. Source: Timberbiz The firmware V4.0 update offers enhanced features for a more comprehensive telematics experience including an updated LogOn web interface, with the inclinometer on the main screen and a dedicated text messaging icon. With the latest update, LogOn puts more diagnostic and repair resource in your hands. Users with RemoteLog equipped machines now have the ability to perform an inducement unlock without the need for an unlock PIN. In addition, the complete service manual for the machine can be accessed with LogOn. The LogOn interface provides easy-to-understand steps to diagnose issues, directly referencing the appropriate section of the service manual. Several diagnostic tests can be initiated directly from LogOn to further diagnose the underlying reason for the fault code. CAN Analyzer can now capture CAN data based on a trigger that can be set to either an ArbID or a PGN. The capture will stop after the specified time post trigger when the trigger is detect-ed, or on the Stop button. A bulk recorder has been added that records all CAN traffic until clicking Stop or when the recording file size reaches a maximum size. A complete Engine ECU Stores Data report is now generated when requesting stored data from the ECU. Engine and aftertreatment diagnostic tests: The Compression Test detects relative low cylinder compression by controlling fuel and measuring crankshaft speed during engine cranking The Runup Test checks the fuel injection system for proper operation and perfor-mance The High Pressure Rail Test checks the fuel rail system for proper operation and performance, including fuel rail pump performance, system leakage, fuel pressure regulator tightness variation, and fuel pressure control instability The Exhaust Flap Valve Test runs a sequence of position requests to the exhaust flap actuator and compares the requested positions to the actual positions Several aftertreatment tests including the Urea Dosing System Test (UDST), Urea Dosing Pump Check (UDPC), and Urea Dosing Leakage Check (UDLC)   Colour coding has been added to the Engine Diagnostics reporting screen to make it easier to comprehend the status of the test. This applies to all the tests available in Engine Diagnostics.

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Sumitomo Forestry has been named in the Dow Jones Best-in-Class World Index (DJ BIC World), a globally renowned ESG investment equity index. In this index, Sumitomo Forestry secured the top score in the homebuilding industry (among 16 eligible companies) for the fifth consecutive year. Source: Timberbiz In addition, Sumitomo Forestry has also been included in the Dow Jones Best-in-Class Asia Pacific Index (DJ BIC Asia Pacific), an index comprised of Asia Pacific companies. This is the 18th time Sumitomo Forestry has been included in the Dow Jones Best-in-Class Indices (DJ BIC) since first selected in 2005. Launched in 1999, the DJ BIC series are sustainability-related equity indices announced yearly by the US company S&P Dow Jones Indices. Companies are evaluated and analysed on their sustainability practices based on economic, environmental, and social criteria and those that demonstrate superior performance are selected for inclusion. DJ BIC World comprises global sustainability leaders as identified by S&P Global through the Corporate Sustainability Assessment (317 companies, of which 35 companies are Japanese).. In addition to the DJ BIC series, Sumitomo Forestry has been selected for ESG indices adopted by Japan’s Government Pension Investment Fund, one of the world’s largest pension funds. Every year, Sumitomo Forestry publishes the Sumitomo Forestry Group Sustainability Report on its corporate website to provide information on the Group’s sustainability initiatives to investors and a wide variety of other stakeholders. Sumitomo Forestry Group formulated Mission TREEING 2030, a long-term vision with 2030 as target year, the same target year as the United Nation’s SDGs. In this long-term vision, the company defined nine material issues from the perspective of providing value for the planet, for people and society, and for the market economy.

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Forest owners are interested in the voluntary protection of their forests, offering more than 1,000 hectares for the first application round organised by Metsä Conservation Foundation.  Source: Timberbiz These 85 sites represent diverse forests from all over Finland. “I’m very pleased with the number of applications. Information about Metsä Conservation Foundation has reached forest owners well. The interest shows there’s demand for voluntary forest conservation,” said Shaheena Turak, manager of Metsä Conservation Foundation. Metsä Conservation Foundation provides funding for the permanent protection of forest sites with high biodiversity value in Finland. The goal is that the protected area remains in the ownership of the forest owner. The forest owner initiates the conservation process. Metsä Conservation Foundation’s first application round received the most applications from Lapland, North Ostrobothnia, North Karelia and South Savo. In terms of area (hectares), the largest share was offered from Lapland. The sites offered for conservation vary in size from one hectare to more than 100 hectares. Next, Metsä Conservation Foundation’s Conservation Committee will evaluate the sites. Forest owners who have submitted an application will be notified from June onwards whether their site will be conserved through Metsä Conservation Foundation. The Conservation Committee will visit the best sites, after which the Foundation’s Board will confirm the conservation decisions. Forest owners will be notified during autumn if the Metsä Conservation Foundation wants to protect their site. Based on current estimates, the first conservation decisions are expected to be made public around the turn of the year. “It’s clear that, unfortunately, we’ll not be able to protect all valuable offered sites, which means that even some good sites will not receive funding. Our goal is that in the coming years, the volume of conservation increases, and the foundation attracts more partners,” Turak says. Metsä Group’s parent company Metsäliitto Cooperative founded Metsä Conservation Foundation in 2025 to meet the need for additional protection of forests with significant nature value in Finland. The foundation aims to complement both the existing conservation networks of valuable forests and the variety of protection methods. The foundation also wants to inspire new operators to join conservation work.

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Students at Mount Gambier’s Limestone Coast Technical College are gaining direct exposure to the future of bushfire detection and emergency response technology, following the integration of real-world bushfire footage captured by Pano AI’s advanced detection network. Source: Timberbiz Using the College’s immersive learning environment, Igloo, students recently viewed historic footage from the March 2025 Fox fire in South Australia’s south-east, a fast-moving blaze that triggered emergency warnings as crews battled extreme heat, strong winds and dense scrub. More than 100 firefighters and aerial resources were deployed as the fire burned through hundreds of hectares under challenging conditions. The footage, captured via Pano AI’s panoramic detection cameras operating in partnership with the Green Triangle Fire Alliance and supported by a $2.5 million investment from the South Australian Government, demonstrated how artificial intelligence and high-definition imaging can detect smoke signatures in their earliest stages, providing critical minutes of advanced warning to fire agencies and land managers. Pano AI’s detection network is strategically deployed across the Green Triangle region, supporting coordinated early detection capability across commercial forestry estates, agricultural land and surrounding communities. “By combining 360-degree panoramic cameras, AI-powered detection and human verification, Pano AI provides early smoke detection and real-time situational awareness for fire agencies during high-risk conditions,” said Andrew Prolov, Head of Australia GTM at Pano AI. “Across the Green Triangle, this detection network is helping protect forestry estates, farms and regional communities by identifying ignitions earlier and giving responders critical extra time to act before incidents escalate.” South Australian Forest Products Association’s Nathan Paine said that bringing operational detection footage from a real incident like the Fox fire into the classroom transformed how students understood technology’s role in emergency response. “These are the systems already protecting landscapes across the Limestone Coast. Students are not learning about hypothetical future tools, they are seeing the infrastructure that is actively protecting their own region,” he said. Limestone Coast Technical College is designed to deliver hands-on, industry-aligned training in sectors critical to South Australia’s economic future. Integrating advanced detection technology into the learning experience reinforces the evolving nature of trades, engineering and land management roles where digital systems, automation and real-time data now sit alongside traditional practical skills. “It is great to be able to work with our industry partners on real world content,” Jason Plunkett, Industry Training Specialist at the Limestone Coast Technical College said. “Having the students see how their learning can be translated into real world settings is incredibly valuable. Being able to keep the material current is an amazing opportunity and allows the students to consider recent community issues when developing their understanding.” As climate pressures intensify and bushfire seasons become more complex, early detection technology is increasingly recognised as essential infrastructure. By connecting students to live examples of AI-enabled emergency management, Limestone Coast Technical College is helping prepare a workforce capable of operating, maintaining and advancing the technologies that underpin regional resilience. Through its ongoing partnership with the Green Triangle Fire Alliance, Pano AI continues to strengthen early detection capability while contributing to the development of future-ready technical skills in South Australia’s south-east.

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Tasmanian farmers and landowners will have access to free resources and events to learn about how carbon forestry works as part of Private Forests Tasmania’s new Carbon Forestry 101 project. Source: Timberbiz Supported by the Tasmanian Government’s Renewables, Climate and Future Industries (ReCFIT), Carbon Forestry 101 will be rolled out from 2026-2028 to Tasmanian farmers and landowners. The project will see all information about carbon forestry brought together into the one place and unpacked in plain, easy to understand language without the jargon. This will include information on carbon science, carbon forestry methodologies, carbon markets (what are they) and governance. It will also cover off on the sustainability integration of carbon forestry projects and their benefits across entire properties. Private Forests Tasmania’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr Elizabeth Pietrzykowski said Carbon Forestry 101 was a learning experience. “We hope this project will give Tasmanian farmers and landowners the knowledge and confidence to make informed decisions about carbon opportunities for their properties. “Information about carbon and carbon forestry can be complex and full of jargon. It is also available through different channels but can rarely be found in the one space or solely with a Tasmanian context. “Carbon Forestry 101 will address this exactly and will be a great way for farmers and landowners to enhance their knowledge before committing to undertake a carbon forestry project.” Dr Pietrzykowski said carbon forestry projects are not a ‘one-size-fits-all’ situation and often are most successful when they are integrated in addition to existing farming enterprises and can be navigated with clear awareness of the opportunities and risks. “We know that farmers and landowners know their land best. They understand where its most productive, least productive and are managing complex risks and changing conditions and costs every day. “Carbon forestry projects have been around for a while now but are becoming increasingly appealing for their environmental, economic and sustainability benefits. “It can be difficult to know where to go to even start to understand what it is and how it works. “Private Forests Tasmania’s Carbon Forestry 101 will bring all the pieces of carbon forestry together.” The Carbon Forestry 101 project was formally launched at Agfest, at site 809 in the TasFarmers tent. Farmers and landowners’ interested in being part of Carbon Forestry 101 are encouraged to register their interest in the project by providing their details to Private Forests Tasmania. TasFarmers Chief Executive Officer Nathan Calman welcomed the project, highlighting the role farm forestry can play in strengthening on-farm outcomes. “The TasFarmers’ Forestry Committee have worked closely on the benefits farm forestry can generate, and we’re pleased to see this project launched,” Mr Calman said. Tasmanian farmers and landowners wishing to register for Carbon Forestry 101 can do so by visiting www.pft.tas.gov.au/carbon-forestry-101 For more information about Carbon Forestry 101, contact Private Forests Tasmania by calling 1300 661 009 or emailing admin@pft.tas.gov.au  

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The New Zealand Forest Owners Association (NZFOA) says the latest set of changes to the National Environmental Standards for Commercial Forestry (NES-CF) are an important step toward a more nationally consistent and risk-based framework for managing forestry activities across New Zealand. Source: Timberbiz NZFOA chief executive Dr Elizabeth Heeg says the changes, due to come into effect on 4 June as part of the wider Resource Management Act reforms, better align regulatory oversight with the site-specific risks associated with New Zealand’s diverse forestry landscapes. “Forestry operates across highly variable terrain and environmental conditions,” Dr Heeg said. “Regulation needs to reflect those differences rather than assume every site carries the same level of risk. “Ensuring there is a nationally consistent framework remains of critical importance to forest owners, but not at the expense of applying identical rules regardless of landscape, erosion profile or catchment sensitivity. “Durable environmental outcomes require regulation that is consistently applied and reflects actual environmental risk across different forestry environments. “A forest in rolling hill country, for example, presents different risks to steep land above a sensitive catchment. The updated NES-CF is better equipped to recognise those differences and risks.” Dr Heeg says the NES-CF changes are emblematic of an evidence-based approach to environmental management, particularly on steep and erosion-prone land. “Forest owners have seen how differing interpretations of environmental rules between regions can create uncertainty, duplication of rules and cost burdens without improving environmental outcomes,” she said. “The latest changes strengthen the ability to focus regulatory requirements where environmental risk is higher, while allowing decisions to better reflect site-specific conditions. This is a more practical and targeted approach to managing environmental risk.” The reform will also provide more certainty for forest owners, contractors, councils and communities. “Forestry is planned over years – often decades. Decisions about planting, roading, harvesting and replanting rely on regulation that is clear, grounded in evidence and workable in practice,” Dr Heeg said. “Greater national consistency will provide more certainty around how forestry activities and environmental risks are managed across the motu.” The Association says the introduction of a Slash Mobilisation Risk Assessment framework is a practical example of a more risk-based approach being applied in practice. It recognises assessments developed and relied on, by the sector and by councils. “Post-Cyclone Gabrielle, the sector has been adapting management practices for higher-risk environments, particularly around slash management, erosion risk, harvest planning and decision-making on more complex sites,” Dr Heeg said. “The proposed framework reflects ongoing work to continually improve how harvest residue risk is identified and managed across different environments and terrain types. “It enables higher-risk sites to be identified more consistently, so management efforts can be focused where they are most needed, while still allowing for different approaches depending on the nature of the land and the level of environmental risk involved.” Dr Heeg says it’s important that forestry regulation has scope to evolve as science, operational experience and changing climate conditions shape what best practice looks like in the field. “Forestry needs a system that supports long-term investment, protects the environment and keeps people safe, while allowing practices to continue improving over time,” she said. “That is particularly important in higher-risk environments, where operational decisions can involve steep terrain and complex conditions, and where managing the safety of people working on the ground is integral to how work is planned and carried out. “Forest owners support regulation that can adapt as science, data and operational experience evolve. But as always, the detail of how these changes are implemented will be critical to whether they achieve their intent in practice.”

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A major NSW forestry consultation has highlighted the Tumut region’s importance to Australia’s softwood processing industry, while revealing divisions over forest management and bushfire resilience. Source: Tumut and Adelong Times The NSW government last week published its Independent Forestry Panel Stakeholder Consultation Report, a step towards the development of a Forest Industry Action Plan (FIAP). The panel received written submissions from over 1500 individuals and 160 organisations representing a cross-section of the timber industry, environmental groups, researchers, residents and businesses from regional NSW and others, guided by six prompts based around areas to be ad-dressed in the FIAP. While the report focuses primarily on native forest harvesting, it also addresses the softwood industry in the Snowy Valleys and across the state. It groups Tumut within its Coastal (Southern) forestry region, which it described as Australia’s most concentrated softwood processing area. The report identified several shared objectives across submissions, including bushfire resilience however, stakeholders differed on how forests should be managed to achieve that. “Some [say] that timber harvesting, salvage logging, and silviculture techniques like thinning reduce bushfire risks and others [say] that harvesting, salvage logging and thinning all increase bushfire frequency and intensity,” the report reads. “Despite that divergence, the submissions clearly demonstrate a deep shared concern about bushfire risk now and in the future, and that there is urgent need for improved fire policy and management based on empirical evidence and up-to-date scientific consensus.” The report notes different cohorts have different conceptions of what ap-propriate active management of forests for fire resilience is. “Some favour hazard reduction burning and robust fuel load reduction methods … Others caution that this approach only works in some forest types and that a much more nuanced, adaptive and multifaceted approach is needed.” The report noted some stakeholders highlighted “the strong capacity of Forestry Corporation’s staff and other timber industry workers to cost-effectively prepare and respond to bushfire threats as being highly valuable.” “Previous reviews have noted that the Forestry Corporation is a statutory firefighting authority and plays a role in fire management in native forests,” the report said. “Forestry Corporation’s workforce includes trained firefighters who carry out fire mitigation and hazard reduction (including fire trail maintenance, specialist tall tree felling skills), training and maintenance programs, a large fleet of heavy machinery and equipment and supply agreements to enable quick uplift in people, plant and equipment and firefighting response in co-ordination with other agencies.” The Independent Forestry Panel is chaired by Peter Duncan with other panel members Professor Mary O’Kane and Mick Veitch. A ministerial statement from the offices of the minister for agriculture, the minister for energy and climate change, and the minister for environment and heritage thanked all those who made submissions and attended focus groups and stakeholder interviews. “Making this report available to the public is a key step towards modernising forestry in a way that protects biodiversity,” the statement reads. “Following the finalisation of the stakeholder report, the panel has been tasked to produce a considerations report. “This report will accommodate the stakeholder report findings and identify opportunities to ensure the ongoing sustainability of the NSW forestry industry and support jobs, in the context of recent and ongoing changes.” The stakeholder report can be read in full at: https://www.nsw.gov.au/departments-and-agencies/cabinet-office/resources/independent-forestry-panel-stakeholder-report

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Timber NSW has lodged a submission to a Senate inquiry lobbying the Federal government, the inquiry is looking at the effectiveness of sanctions against the Russian Federation. The submission is signed by Timber NSW Chief Executive Maree McCaskill. Source: Timberbiz In its submission Timber NSW says it represents the timber and forest products industry in NSW. The membership of Timber NSW comprises sawmillers, plantation owners, harvest and haul contractors in the hardwood industry, and manufacturers who use low-grade hardwood products to produce high-value products for local use and export. The submission is the result of claims that Russian timber is being moved through China and Southeast Asia and that tariffs are not enough to stop this trade. According to the submission, in 2022, Australia imposed a tariff on timber imports from the Russian Federation and on Belarusian timber products. The tariff was an additional 35% on all imports from Russia and Belarus, including timber products, effective from 25 April 2022. The Russian timber industry supplies 63% of China’s softwood lumber imports and the submission states that while tariff measures could act as a deterrent it does not capture timber products that incorporate Russian timber in manufactured goods. The submission states that China is turning Russian logs into engineered wood products with record shipments to Australia, mainly LVL formwork, which represents 40% of the Australian market, and plywood In 2024 Dr Madeline Osborn, Acting Director, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, said that between 15% and 30% of all timber traded globally is potentially illegally logged, and 10% potentially in the Australian market is illegally sourced. Dr Osborn also said that about 25% of products tested had inaccurate species and origin claims. Timber NSW says the government should reference how the EU, UK and the US have improved compliance methodologies regarding timber sanctions. Australia should utilise the Autonomous Sanctions Act 2011 (Cth) and issue a declaration pursuant to section 10(1)(c), sanctioning Russian-produced timber in both direct and indirect imports. This section authorises the use of the Regulations to make such a restriction, and this might be achieved by amending the Autonomous Sanctions (Import Sanctioned Goods – Russia) Designation 2022 by the addition of the words “Item 17 Timber and timber products directly or indirectly sourced from Russia.” This inquiry will accept public submission until 12 June and report by 20 August.  It is expected that other associations in the timber trade will also make submissions in the near future. The full submission can be downloaded here.

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Timber Towns Victoria met with six Political parties in Victoria this week calling for pre-election commitments on three policies, one of which proves technology that has already detected 90 unplanned fires across Victoria in two seasons. Source: Timberbiz Timber Towns Victoria met with representatives this week from the National, Liberal, Labor, One Nation, Shooters and Fishers, and Libertarian parties at the Victorian Parliament, presenting a three-priority 2026 Government Brief ahead of the state election on November 28 this year. TTV’s priority ask is calling for multi-year funding commitments for rural road repairs and dedicated funding for freight-critical bridge upgrades, citing accelerated deterioration across key regional corridors under heavier freight loads and more frequent severe weather events. TTV President Cr Karen Stephens said roads were vital for the freight network as logs could not be moved by rail due to the rural spread of plantation areas. “We ask for a commitment to strengthening Victoria’s regional transport network by in-creasing roads and bridges maintenance funding, and prioritising long-term, durable solutions that support community safety and economic resilience,” Cr Stephens said. TTV also wants a statewide expansion of AI-enabled fire detection cameras. The network has already detected almost 90 unplanned fires across Victoria over the past two fire danger seasons — 40 in 2023-24 and 46 in 2024-25. In South Australia, the same system has detected almost 90 fires since rollout across more than one million hectares, with 90 per cent of coverage extending beyond plantations into surrounding communities. The data was provided to TTV by the Victorian Forest Products Association (VFPA) and the Green Triangle Fire Alliance (GTFA), which manages the network across both states. Cr Stephens said regional communities were looking for firm commitments. “We ask for a commitment to supporting a safer Victoria through expanded fire camera coverage, modern AI-enabled detection systems, and long-term funding that protects communities, forests, and regional industries,” she said. The technology uses AI, ultra-HD 360-degree cameras and satellite data to detect smoke and ignition points continuously across large landscapes, with all alerts verified by human analysts before dispatch. Despite the proven results, Victorian coverage remains uneven, operational funding is inconsistent, and integration with the CFA, FFMVic and the SES is limited. TTV also wants a statewide expansion, sustainable operational funding, and a fully integrated fire intelligence system connecting camera feeds with emergency services across all agencies. On forest policy, TTV is calling for Victoria’s state policy settings to align with the Australian Government’s Timber Fibre Strategy, providing the coordinated framework that plantation investors, processors and regional employers need to plan and grow with confidence. TTV will be seeking a formal response from all six parties on each priority ahead of the state election. “We ask for a commitment to develop a whole-of-government forestry and fibre growth strategy to include streamlining planning and environmental approvals for plantation and processing projects, supporting investment in engineered timber and advanced wood manufacturing, and embedding forestry and fibre in Victoria’s climate and housing strategies,” Cr Stephens said.  

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The effects of the Iran war on the oil market have brought renewed attention to the EU’s plans for domestic production of fossil-free aviation fuels. But EU rules for synthetic aviation fuels risk steering development towards production pathways that are both more expensive and more energy-intensive than necessary – making it harder to meet climate targets. This is shown in a recent study from Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden, that has analysed different methods for producing synthetic methanol. Last year, rules were introduced requiring a minimum blend of 2% sustainable aviation fuel at EU airports. This blending requirement will increase gradually, reaching at least 70% by 2050. By then, half of the sustainable aviation fuel must consist of a category known as RFNBO: Renewable Fuel of Non-Biological Origin. These are synthetic fuels, also known as electrofuels, produced from renewable hydrogen and captured carbon dioxide. Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology now show that the RFNBO rules favour a “detour” in the production of synthetic fuels, which risks increasing both costs and energy use. “Regulations influence not only industry’s investments in technology, but also which research and development priorities are pursued. Instead of driving innovation towards the most efficient solutions, we risk locking ourselves into less resource-efficient production methods,” said Henrik Thunman, Professor of Energy Technology at Chalmers and co-author of the scientific article. Thousands of new plants will be needed globally to meet the growing demand for sustainable aviation fuels in the coming decades. This will require very large investments in facilities with long operating lifetimes. Big differences between alternative pathways for the same product using the same raw material The research team at Chalmers has studied the production of synthetic methanol, which is an example of a fuel molecule that can be converted into sustainable aviation fuel. It provides a representative case for analysing how different production pathways affect resource use in the production of such fuel molecules. These energy-rich molecules can be produced by combining carbon atoms and hydrogen in chemical processes. In the study, the researchers compared three different production pathways for methanol in which the carbon atoms come from biomass – so-called biogenic carbon. Two of the methods are based on biomass combustion, where carbon dioxide is captured from flue gases and then mixed with hydrogen produced separately using electricity. The third is based on gasification, where heated biomass is converted directly into synthesis gas, which contains both carbon and hydrogen. All three production pathways are technically feasible, and both the raw material and the final product can be the same. However, they differ clearly in terms of energy use, cost and electricity demand. “The gasification pathway proved to be the most resource-efficient option in our analysis, with up to 46%  lower production cost and 30% lower electricity demand than the two combustion-based alternatives. The difference shows how large the energy losses can be when biomass is first combusted into carbon dioxide, which is then rebuilt into fuel molecules using large amounts of electricity and hydrogen,” said Johanna Beiron, researcher in Physical Resource Theory at Chalmers and first author of the article. Despite this, combustion is favoured much more strongly than gasification by the EU regulatory framework. The RFNBO category, which is expected to expand from close to zero today to 35 percent of all aviation fuel in the EU by 2050, includes all fuel from the combustion-based alternatives, but excludes around half of the fuel produced via gasification. The reason is that RFNBO fuels may not be produced using energy and carbon atoms that come directly from biomass, as they largely do in gasification-based production. In contrast, it is permitted to use carbon atoms from biomass in combustion-based routes, provided this is done by capturing the carbon dioxide formed when biomass is used for other energy purposes. One example is the combustion of residual material from the forest industry in combined heat and power plants. But such residual material can be used more resource-efficiently through gasification. “One of the combustion-based alternatives we analysed was the process in combined heat and power plants,” said Ms Beiron. “It has lower cost and energy efficiency than gasification, even when we include the additional electricity needed to replace, for example, the district heating that the combustion process can contribute.” One purpose of the RFNBO classification is to stimulate increased generation of renewable electricity for the production of green hydrogen, and to reduce dependence on biomass, which is a limited resource. But the carbon atoms for synthetic aviation fuel must come from somewhere. Biomass is expected to be the least costly fossil-free carbon source for RFNBO production, and the researchers expect that today’s regulatory framework will result in a very high demand for carbon dioxide from biomass combustion. Instead of reducing the need for biomass, the EU regulations risk driving a less energy-efficient use of the limited biomass resource. “The regulatory framework does not account sufficiently for how efficiently different systems use energy and resources,” said Mr Thunman. “The study therefore highlights a structural issue in EU energy and industrial policy: regulation risks working against its own objectives when definitions of sustainable fuels are not aligned with fundamental energy principles or with the Union’s broader ambitions for resource efficiency.” The researchers hope that their results will contribute to greater knowledge about the technologies and systems that are available. “It is surprising that EU rules do not provide clearer incentives for the most efficient alternatives,” said Ms Beiron. “The current regulatory framework risks causing lock-in to combustion-based energy systems, even though technically mature processes already exist that would provide both lower energy use and lower cost – such as gasification and electrification of district heating.” “Our study shows that some parts of the regulatory framework probably need to be adjusted if the EU is to achieve its long-term goals,” said Mr Thunman. “Better coordination is needed between climate targets, resource efficiency and industrial feasibility in order to address the uncertainty that currently exists. This uncertainty makes it difficult to make rational investment decisions […]

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