The Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC) has released a new Electrification Fact Sheet in partnership with EnergyLink Services, giving food and grocery manufacturers a practical framework for reducing emissions through electrification.
The resource outlines key drivers and barriers to electrification, guidance on building a business case, available financial support, and proven electric technologies already in commercial use. It also includes energy efficiency opportunities, category-specific case studies, and a project design checklist.
The release comes as the sector grapples with a significant decarbonisation challenge. Natural gas still accounts for around 40 per cent of total energy use across food and grocery manufacturing, and further reductions will require addressing high upfront capital costs and technological constraints.
AFGC CEO, Colm Maguire, said the guide was designed to move businesses from intent to action.
“Food and grocery manufacturers are already taking meaningful steps to improve energy efficiency and reduce emissions. This guide builds on that momentum and provides practical direction for the next stage of decarbonisation,” Maguire said.
He said electrification represented a competitive as well as environmental opportunity.
“Electrification presents significant opportunity, not just to reduce emissions, but to strengthen long-term competitiveness as Australia’s energy system evolves.”
Australian Industry Renewable Heat Accelerator co-lead, Emma Peacock, said resources like this were critical to driving real-world investment decisions.
“The food and grocery sector has a significant opportunity to reduce emissions and strengthen energy resilience, and many manufacturers are already taking practical steps to get there.
“Supporting industrial businesses to undertake early-stage analysis, and with practical resources like this fact sheet, helps accelerate informed investment decisions in one of the largest and least-addressed sources of industrial energy use,” Peacock said.
The fact sheet was developed with funding from the Australian Industry Renewable Heat Accelerator.
