Australia needs to accelerate the race to net zero, but closer engagement with communities is crucial to ensure no one is left behind, a conference has been told.
Hosted by the Curtin Institute for Energy Transition, the Energy Research Institutes Council for Australia State of Energy Research Conference brought together some of the brightest minds in energy research to share knowledge and explore how to fast track Australia’s clean energy journey.
This year’s speakers included representatives from research networks and industry including Magellan Power, Australian Energy Council, Climateworks Centre, CSIRO, Rio Tinto, BP, Horizon Power and Western Australia’s Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Action.
Director of the Curtin Institute for Energy Transition and Chair of the Energy Research Institutes Council for Australia, Professor Peta Ashworth, said despite best efforts to deploy technology at scale, the transition to reliable, affordable, low carbon energy is lagging well behind.
“While some of the delay is due to technological constraints, we need those responsible for planning and decision making to work more collaboratively to ensure the right questions are being asked to keep the needs of communities at the forefront of the transition,” Professor Ashworth said.
“This year’s conference was themed ‘How can Australia accelerate the energy transition?’ and was a fantastic opportunity to share cutting-edge research into not only technologies but also the crucial policy, economic and social developments.
“The conference covered an array of research topics including navigating mineral constraints for new energy technologies, the electrification of the transport sector, the decarbonisation of mining fleets and machinery, as well as the challenges of maintaining reliable electricity supply from wind and solar and increasing the involvement of First Nations people through employment and training.”
The Curtin Institute for Energy Transition champions interdisciplinary collaboration to effectively address the climate crisis. The Institute comprises researchers from diverse backgrounds, providing the skills, knowledge and thought leadership to safely and fairly transition to a clean energy future.
For more information about the State of Energy Research Conference, visit here.
