Case Studies Archive


Australian Greenhouse Office
Alternative Fuels Conversion Program

Rare Consulting was initially appointed the south-east Australian facilitator (2000-2003) and subsequently the sole national facilitator for the Australian Government's Alternative Fuels Conversion Program. Rare provided program management and strategic advice on the use of gaseous fuels to reduce greenhouse emissions for the Australian heavy vehicle fleet. The work performed under this major commission extended to providing strategic counsel, creating alliances, managing risk and providing technical (environmental and transport) advice. The project contributed to Australia becoming one of the world's leading users of gaseous fuel for heavy vehicle operation.

National Transport Commission
Managing freight in a carbon constrained economy

The National transport Commission engaged Rare Consulting to examine the strategic issues surrounding the future management of greenhouse emissions from the Australian freight sector. The project analysed the carbon footprint of the Australian freight industry (road, rail, sea and air) and identified potential strategies and possible future roles of government for advancing low carbon actions. The six-month study culminated in the release of a public report for industry consultation in July 2008.

Roads and Traffic Authority of NSW
Green Truck Partnership

Rare Consulting is facilitating the Green Truck Partnership on behalf of the NSW Roads and Traffic Authority. The purpose of this three-year initiative is for government and industry to work together to evaluate the economic and environmental performance of alternative vehicle and fuel technologies for road freight operation in Australia. Our involvement in this initiative extends to the strategic development of the partnership, initiation of industry dialogues, technical assistance with the evaluation of specific technologies, and documentation of project case studies.

Vehicle technology pathways

Rare Consulting was commissioned to provide an objective assessment of the environmental and commercial merits of new vehicle technologies for road transport in Australia. The project extended to a critique of past studies and a review of current technology literature with a view to providing the RTA with an understanding of the realistic near-term emissions reduction potential of popular vehicle and fuel alternatives to conventional vehicle operation.

Department of Environment and Climate Change (NSW)
FleetWise Initiative

Over the last two years, the New South Wales Government has been trialling a program of actions designed to improve the environmental performance of government vehicle fleets, while simultaneously delivering economic benefits. This project presented the department with a design for the conduct of the NSW FleetWise Initiative - which is designed to reduce GHG emissions from the New South Wales passenger vehicle fleet by implementing positive actions in partnership with the corporate sector.

Transport, greenhouse and air quality - A strategic framework for action

This project involved the development of a strategic framework for the future management of the adverse air quality and greenhouse issues associated with the operation of road transport in New South Wales. The project was jointly sponsored by the Roads and Traffic Authority NSW and the NSW Department of Environment and Climate Change. The paper has been used as an input to the refinement of transport actions under the umbrella of the NSW State Plan.

Reducing VOC emissions from automotive refinishing in the Sydney Basin

This study provided the NSW Department of Environment and Climate Change with an assessment of the potential opportunities to reduce volatile organic compound emissions from the smash repair industry. The study identified specific improvement opportunities, assessed the commercial and environmental merits of these opportunities, and recommended policy measures that could be adopted to reduce the quantum of volatile organic compounds from the industry over the short to medium term.

Sustainable mobility in local environments (SMILE)

This project involved the development of a unique modelling tool to be used by local government authorities for determining the optimal level of fit of specific sustainable mobility initiatives with the unique travel and socio-demographic characteristics of individual local communities. Stage 2 of the project involved the validation of the tool via the conduct of real-world trials of local community transport initiatives.

Department of Premier and Cabinet (NSW)
Transport and a national emissions trading scheme

Rare Consulting provided the NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet with comments on the possible inclusion of transport in the development of a national emissions trading scheme, and whether any direct GHG abatement benefits from road transport would be delivered in the short to medium term.

COAG Working Group

In partnership with the CSIRO and Orbital Engine Corporation, Rare Consulting was commissioned by COAG to model the sensitivities associated with the inclusion of transport in a national emissions trading scheme.

Department of State and Regional Development (NSW)
Low Carbon Innovation Strategy

Rare Consulting was commissioned by the Department of State and Regional Development as the leadconsultant on the development of a Low Carbon Innovation framework for the NSW Government. The scope of this work included developing a framework for assessing the merits of specific innovations, assessing over 100 innovation opportunities across three industry sectors, and developing program and policy recommendations. The work was subsequently adopted by the NSW Premier's Innovation Council in December 2008.

Hanson Australia
Fuel technologies strategy paper

Rare Consulting was asked to prepare a strategy paper for Hanson Australia on the alternatives to wholesale use of conventional drivetrain and fuel technologies within its fleet.

Golden State Foods
Carbon response strategy

Rare Consulting advised Golden State Foods on its potential commercial liability under a carbon trading scheme and the strategic actions that might be implemented to reduce this liability. A carbon audit quantified the extent of the organisation's liability and a detailed investigation was undertaken of the commercial opportunities that could reduce this liability in the future. A carbon response strategy was submitted to the organisation for consideration and subsequent adoption.

National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Scheme assessments
Various organisations

Rare Consulting has worked with a number of private companies to assess reporting and compliance liability under the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Scheme (NGERS). The most recent assessment was conducted for a freight and logistics company that was seeking to understand whether they were liable to report under the scheme. After discovering that the company was liable to report, Rare Consulting assisted the company with the registration and reporting process. In addition, a series of strategic opportunities for reducing GHG emissions and energy use in the future were identified.

Queensland Energy Resources
Greenhouse life cycle assessment of heavy vehicle fuels in Australia

Rare Consulting was commissioned by Queensland Energy Resources to assess the greenhouse gas emissions (life cycle basis) of a range of alternative transport fuels for heavy vehicle operation. A GHG emissions baseline was constructed based on conventional diesel fuel and was compared with a variety of alternative heavy duty vehicle fuels, including gaseous and synthetic fuels. The study used the SIMAPRO life cycle modelling tool to assess the relative GHG performance of alternative heavy vehicle fuels for road freight operation in Australia.

BP Australia
Commercial fuels market analysis

BP Australia commissioned Rare Consulting to provide an assessment of the strategic factors that are likely to shape the Australian commercial fuels market to 2015 and beyond. This study involved an examination of the transport energy outlook and high-level feasibility assessment of alternative fuels and drivetrains for the Australian road transport fleet. The study report discussed a series of strategic insights (economic, social, environmental and legislative) that were likely to have an influence on the Australian transport fuels market in the near term.

Tasmanian Department of Economic Development
Tasmanian Premier's Fuel Summit

This project involved the preparation of a key note address for the summit covering all aspects of the challenges associated with reducing dependence on conventional fuels. In addition, assistance was provided with the design of the format of the summit and on-the-day facilitation.

Tasmanian Department of Economic Development and LNG Refuellers Pty Ltd
LNG pipeline to truck LNG supply chain

Rare Consulting was involved in the assessment of opportunities for the Tasmanian heavy vehicle industry to reduce its reliance on conventional diesel fuels. As a consequence, Rare Consulting worked with WHK Garrotts (Launceston) and a group of forest industry transport operators to develop Australia's first pipeline to truck LNG supply chain. The work included negotiation with global LNG technology providers and culminated in the signing of a $150m commercial deal in July 2008.

Papyrus Australia
Carbon footprint assessment for new technology development

This project provided an independent assessment of the carbon footprint of the Papyrus production process relative to the traditional paper manufacturing process. The study needed to be of sufficient rigour to be used as a resource document that would support a future grant application for the establishment of a full-scale demonstration plant for this innovative paper production process. Papyrus will need to provide evidence of the greenhouse benefits that could potentially be derived from the widespread application of their patented technology within the Australian (and international) paper market.

Chinese Provincial Government of Chongqing
Facilitation of information workshops

In May 2008, Rare Consulting completed a commission with the Chinese Provincial Government of Chongqing (Western China). The purpose of this commission was to advise the provincial government on the strategic issues surrounding the development of liquefied natural gas for road transport operations in Western China. During the course of this work, senior staff provided high-level strategic and technical briefings to politicians, government officials and technical personnel.