This project will explore the potential of biochar for use as a climate-responsible, high-performance, pavement material.
According to Transport Emissions: Driving down car pollution in cities, transport contributes 17% of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions in Western Australia (WA). While vehicle emissions are an obvious source of GHG emissions, the construction of transport infrastructure also contributes. New pavement materials offer the potential not only to improve pavement performance but to contribute to achieving WA’s aspirational target of net zero emissions by 2050, through reuse, carbon storage and reduced emissions.

Biochar is the product of pyrolysis, which is the process of heating biomass to a relative high temperature (500 °C, for example) without oxygen. It is a lightweight black solid that locks carbon in a chemically stable form and can endure in soil for thousands of years. It has a long history of being used to increase soil fertility and agricultural productivity but there has been a growing interest in its role in carbon capture and storage because of its stability.

Furthermore, recent literature suggests that biochar can improve asphalt’s performance against the effects of aging, deformation, and high temperature. To harness the carbon sequestration potentials, this research will investigate:

1. the application of biochar as a filler material in asphalt pavements; and
2. the combination of biochar and limestone dust to reduce or even replace the anti-stripping agent – hydrated lime (the production of which generates a large amount of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere).

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The State Government’s Climate Policy (2020) sets out the strategic objectives for Western Australia to reach net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050 and recognises the importance of significant action in the decade to 2030 to reduce emissions. As well, State Government agencies need to develop strategies to reduce GHG emissions by 80% on 2020 levels by 2030. The Public Transport Authority has taken responsibility for developing strategies to transition all government funded bus services to zero emissions in the next two decades. The transport sector generates nearly 15 million tonnes per annum of GHG emissions, and this has increased by 45% since 2005. The bus services funded by the State Government through the Public Transport Authority (Transperth, regional cities and towns, school bus services) require extensive fleets of buses and these typically involve a 15-20 year fleet replacement cycle. A Strategy to transition these bus services to zero emissions vehicles is needed to support decisions that will enable the transition to commence by the mid-late 2020s.

The objectives of this research project are to assess the feasibility of battery-electric buses for regional school bus services in Western Australia; identify and, where needed, propose solutions for electricity network capacity constraints; and identify the technical support services required for zero emissions buses and related infrastructure.

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There is a need to understand how structure planning processes for new residential neighbourhoods can best contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This should consider how accounting for emissions can be accomplished at the planning stage and followed through to the implementation and delivery stages. Western Australia’s State Planning Policy (SPP 7.2) includes a requirement for precinct structure planning to consider greenhouse gas emissions reduction and incorporation of renewable energy sources, and the preparation of an Energy and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Statement. This research will support meeting this requirement, providing an evidence base and tools to support better decision making and assessment in planning and design of new neighbourhoods.

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Over 75% of natural resources are consumed in cities, which produce over 70% of global waste. With approximately half of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with material use, there is a need to transform linear value chains and preserve material value to achieve Net Zero at the city scale. Circular economy strategies are becoming increasingly more popular in mitigating waste production and helping to maintain materials and resources in use, effectively reducing the need to extract virgin materials in production processes. Closing material loops at a product or industry level alone does not ensure environmental sustainability. A systems-wide approach that goes beyond waste management strategies is required, supported by a key performance indicator framework within a digital circular monitor for effectively monitoring and driving circular outcomes. Towards that end, this Stage 1 project aims to measure the materials footprint linked to final consumption in Greater Perth, Western Australia (WA), quantifying resource inflows and waste outflows and related energy use and GHG emissions. Building on the materials footprint, localised stock and flow accounts of actual material and energy use will be prepared, providing a high-level overview and understanding of the socioeconomic metabolism of Greater Perth, and the wider WA economy.

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