HAMR Energy partners with OneFortyOne to supply biomass for renewable methanol, advancing Victoria’s AUD 2 billion Portland Renewable Fuels Project.
Australian clean energy company HAMR Energy has entered into a strategic partnership with OneFortyOne, a forestry and sawmill operator, to secure sustainable biomass feedstock for renewable methanol production. The agreement, formalized through a memorandum of understanding (MoU), is seen as a crucial advancement in the development of HAMR’s Portland Renewable Fuels Project (PRF Project) in Victoria.
Under the MoU, OneFortyOne will initially provide biomass residues to the PRF Project, while both parties jointly explore ways to optimize biomass specifications and logistics for long-term supply. The collaboration also aims to extend its learnings to New Zealand, where OneFortyOne owns forestry assets in the Nelson and Marlborough regions on the South Island.
Over the next 18 to 24 months, OneFortyOne will support HAMR by delivering sample wood fibre for testing and in-field trials. These efforts will help validate feedstock assumptions and refine operational processes, paving the way for definitive supply agreements. The partnership not only provides feedstock security but also strengthens the commercial framework required to scale up renewable fuel production.
The PRF Project, once completed, will produce up to 300,000 tonnes of renewable methanol annually, derived from forestry residues combined with green hydrogen. Renewable methanol is increasingly viewed as a critical fuel to reduce carbon emissions in hard-to-abate sectors, particularly maritime and aviation transport.
The project has already achieved a significant milestone with the completion of its pre-front-end engineering design (pre-FEED), conducted by German engineering firm thyssenkrupp Uhde. With an estimated investment of AUD 2 billion (USD 1.3 billion), the facility is scheduled to become operational by 2029.
David Stribley, Co-Founder of HAMR Energy, emphasized the importance of the MoU, describing it as “another major step” in advancing the company’s portfolio of low-carbon liquid fuels (LCLF) projects. He also highlighted that the partnership coincides with HAMR’s ongoing Series A fundraising efforts, aimed at securing the capital required for the next stages of development.
Nick Chan, Director of Corporate Strategy at OneFortyOne, expressed optimism about the collaboration. He noted that transforming lower-value forestry residues into renewable methanol not only creates new value streams but also supports emissions reduction goals in industries such as aviation and shipping.
The timing of the agreement aligns well with the Australian Government’s Cleaner Fuels Program, which recently committed AUD 1.1 billion to support the development and supply of low-carbon liquid fuels across the country. This policy backing provides additional momentum to projects like HAMR’s PRF, reinforcing Australia’s broader strategy to transition towards cleaner energy solutions.
Overall, the HAMR–OneFortyOne partnership represents a vital convergence of industrial capability, government support, and technological innovation, setting the stage for Australia to emerge as a key player in renewable methanol and sustainable fuel markets.
