Wildfire Energy secures Queensland government funding for Bulwer Island Biofuels Hub
- Jul 9
- 3 min read
9th July 2026: The Queensland State Government has awarded Wildfire Energy $18.56 million through the landmark $180.6 million Sovereign Industry Development Fund (SIDF) to support the construction of the first phase of the Bulwer Island Biofuels Hub.
The project will support the commercial deployment of Wildfire Energy's Queensland-developed MIHG technology, helping transform non-recyclable waste into valuable energy products and supporting the development of future fuel supply chains.
Located at the former Bulwer Island refinery site, the Hub will include a first of a kind waste-to-biofuels commercial reference plant. Phase 1 of the project will produce bio-syngas which will be used to produce up to 1.4 megawatts of electricity continuously – enough to power 1,000 homes – with future phases of the project to create bio-methanol and Sustainable Aviation Fuel, securing Queensland’s long-term fuel security. The project will create up to 65 jobs, giving Queenslanders new opportunities in the growing biofuels industry.
The Queensland State Government funding provides further recognition of Wildfire Energy’s proprietary Moving Injection Horizontal Gasification (MIHG) technology which is uniquely able to process residual wastes such as garbage directly into a bio-syngas that can be upgraded into a range of energy products. The state government financial support follows $3.15 million funding from the ARENA SAF Funding Initiative which is being used to progress a Feasibility Study into the commercial production of bio-methanol and SAF and to demonstrate bio-methanol production at pilot scale. It also follows a recent investment of $2 million from Climate Tech Partners, with backing from Qantas and Airbus, through CTP’s Aviation Sidecar.
Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning Jarrod Bleijie said the investment would strengthen Queensland’s sovereign biofuels capability, boost fuel security and back a home-grown industry.
“This investment will help grow Queensland’s biofuels capability, strengthen our sovereign fuel supply chains and reduce reliance on imported fuels by supporting home-grown technology and manufacturing.
“The Bulwer Island Biofuels Hub will turn waste into a valuable fuel source while strengthening Queensland’s energy resilience.
“Bulwer Island has long been central to Queensland’s fuel industry, and this investment ensures it will continue playing a critical role in strengthening our state’s energy resilience for decades to come
Wildfire Energy Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder Greg Perkins said the investment would accelerate delivery and help strengthen Queensland's position as a leader in biofuels innovation and biofuels development.
“The funding allows us to move from demonstrating the technology to delivering Queensland's first waste-to-biofuels commercial reference plant, creating jobs, attracting investment and supporting the growth of Queensland's biofuels industry.
"Bulwer Island gives us the opportunity to show how Queensland innovation can be used to turn hard-to-recycle waste into valuable products and help build new industries for the future.”
Image: Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning Jarrod Bleijie and Minister for Health and Ambulance Services and Member for Clayfield Tim Nicholls with the Wildfire Energy team at the MIHG pilot plant site at Bulwer Island.
Image: Current 3D model of the Bulwer Island Biofuels Hub, Phase 1 (subject to change).
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Queensland State Government announcement:
MEDIA CONTACT
Greg Perkins, greg.perkins@wildfireenergy.com.au CEO, Wildfire Energy |0488 150 695
About Wildfire Energy:
Wildfire Energy’s vision is to eliminate landfill by turning residual wastes into renewable energy, hydrogen and sustainable fuels including bio-methanol and sustainable aviation fuel. Global solid waste generation is over 2 billion tonnes annually and landfills are responsible for over 5% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Wildfire Energy’s solution is called MIHG (moving injection horizontal gasification), a simple process which converts waste into bio-syngas for upgrading into electricity, hydrogen and sustainable fuels with net negative carbon emissions. Wildfire Energy has developed modular plants which can be rapidly deployed and used to convert biomass and residual wastes at low cost.