Locomotive energy efficiency projects (Coal South & North & Bulk West) (Revoked)

Locomotive energy efficiency projects (Coal South & North & Bulk West) (Revoked) was a transport-based carbon abatement project operated by Aurizon Operations Limited. Registered in December 2015, the project was short-lived and voluntarily revoked in February 2016, operating for less than three months. Unlike land-based offset projects, this initiative did not occupy a single fixed area but covered Aurizon's extensive rail freight networks across Queensland and Western Australia.

The project operated under the Carbon Credits (Carbon Farming Initiative, Land and Sea Transport) Methodology Determination 2015. This methodology provides a framework for transport operators to earn Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) by reducing the emissions intensity of their operations. Activities typically include modifying vehicles to improve fuel efficiency, switching to lower-emission fuel sources, or implementing operational changes, such as improved driving strategies, that reduce the amount of fuel consumed per tonne of freight moved.

Geographically, the project encompassed two distinct major operational zones. "Coal North" and "Coal South" refer to the Central Queensland Coal Network (CQCN), a massive rail system connecting mines in the Bowen Basin to ports at Gladstone, Mackay, and Abbot Point. The nearest major urban hubs for these operations are Rockhampton and Mackay. "Bulk West" refers to Aurizon’s bulk freight operations in Western Australia, servicing industries like iron ore and grain, with key logistic hubs near Perth (Kwinana), Geraldton, and Kalgoorlie.

The environmental conditions across these rail corridors vary immensely. The Central Queensland coalfields are typically semi-arid to sub-tropical, characterised by summer-dominant rainfall and heavy clay or cracking clay soils (vertosols) often used for grazing and mining. Conversely, the Western Australian operations traverse landscapes ranging from the Mediterranean climate of the south-west wheatbelt to the arid, red sandy loams of the interior goldfields and iron ore regions.

An interesting aspect of this project is its rapid revocation under Section 33 of the CFI Act, which indicates the proponent voluntarily withdrew the project. This early withdrawal likely reflects an administrative restructuring or a strategic pivot, as Aurizon has continued to pursue decarbonisation aggressively in subsequent years. Recently, the company has shifted focus toward developing battery-electric locomotives and hybrid tenders to achieve net-zero operational emissions by 2050.