CIET Newsletter: January, February, March
Curtin Institute for Energy Transition
Our Institute brings together academia and industry to facilitate multidisciplinary research into the energy transition.
Dear Friends of CIET,
The record-breaking temperatures of last summer have been a stark reminder of the need to accelerate action on climate change. This was the focus of the Energy Research Institutes Council for Australia (ERICA) State of Energy Research Conference (SoERC) 2024, held at Curtin in February. The need for urgency was reinforced when we gathered for the first day, and temperatures rose to 40+°C a - bit of a shock for our Eastern seaboard colleagues!
Increasing the deployment of renewable energy at scale is critical for our energy transition, but not without its challenges. Whether it is politics, people, biodiversity, or supply chain considerations, there are multiple trade-offs that need to be addressed to transition successfully and mitigate emissions.?
Just last month, I was fortunate to travel to Houston to attend CERAWeek 2024 with a delegation from the City of Perth. ‘Houston, we have a problem’ has never been more pertinent! While IRA, geopolitics and AI were hot topics, it is an understatement to say that I was underwhelmed by the lack of ambition expressed by many CEOs of the multinationals present. It reinforced that we need all CO2 reduction technologies on the table and much more innovation if we are going to solve this problem.
Equally disturbing was the rapid deployment of new data centres (new ones being built around the world every 3 days) and their associated energy requirements (in total, we are talking terawatt hours). Access to land located close to transmission lines, large-scale renewable energy projects and good fibre optics to connect to the cloud were key priorities. Could this be a new value add for our transitioning coal communities if we could deploy the renewables required at scale?
On a more positive note, associated with the need for data centres was the growing role that artificial intelligence (AI) is playing in improving efficiencies in operations and the market more broadly. Hearing from Bill Gates about AI, the focus of Breakthrough Energy, along with the importance of taking action on climate change from former Secretary of State, The Honourable John Kerry, did leave me with some hope from what started out to be quite a depressing week. Clearly, as researchers, we need to do more. To keep working with those who are actively committed to change to reduce the emissions profiles of their businesses.
The energy transition is truly one of the greatest challenges of our time. While daunting, I am excited by the role that CIET researchers can play in helping to overcome it.
Best wishes,
Professor Peta Ashworth OAM
Director, Curtin Institute for Energy Transition
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HREC number HRE2023-0618
Research highlights
State of Energy Research Conference (SoERC 2024)
We were thrilled to have so many attendees from around the country (and the world!) join us in Perth for a discussion of all things energy. Thanks to all of our sponsors: DCCEW, JTSI, RACE for 2030 CRC, Future Energy Exports CRC, Western Power, Rio Tinto and Synergy. We would also like to extend our thanks to all who attended and all speakers and poster presenters for offering their insights on “How to accelerate the energy transition.” We look forward to see everyone and more next year for SoERC2025.
Perspectives on the energy transition: New webinar series
In March we launched our new webinar series, Perspectives on the energy transition, with a fantastic discussion with Prof. Clark Miller (Arizona State University) on design choices for the energy transition. We’re excited to announce our next webinars will be with Prof. Patrick Devine-Wright (University of Exeter) and Prof. Kelly Shue (Yale University).
If you have not already done so, please register for and share these events with your colleagues - we’re looking forward to having you join us!
Prof. Clark Miller
Which future will we build? Design choices and decarbonisation
Prof. Patrick Devine-Wright
How can we decarbonise society in ways that are place-sensitive and fair?
Prof. Kelly Shue
Economics, behaviour and the energy transition
Major ARENA grant for hydrogen research at Curtin
The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has announced their newest projects, including the award of a $5 million grant to Curtin!
The Hydrogen Export as a Powder project is led by Prof. Craig Buckley with CIs A/Prof. Mark Paskevicius, Dr Terry Humphries, Dr Peter O'Conghaile, Prof. Peta Ashworth from Curtin University, and Michael Griffith, Nicole Morecombe and Simon Coyle from Velox Energy Materials.
Net Zero Precincts launch
The Net Zero Precincts (NZP) project is led by an outstanding team of researchers; Professors?@Josh Byrne,?Peter Newman, Reena Tiwari, Petra Tschakert (TL: Energy humanities) and Peta Ashworth?(TL: Social licence and technology in society).
NZPs provide high-quality residential or industrial environments while simultaneously helping to meet Australia’s climate change commitments and address other key sustainability challenges. The NZP project aims to enable a step-change in decarbonisation efforts of Australian precincts
Alternative use of tailings and waste
Without proper management, mining waste poses serious environmental risks, especially in Australia, where mining generates significant amounts of waste. Applying circular economy principles to mine waste presents opportunities for resource recovery through repurposing, reprocessing, and recycling.
Prof. Fran Ackerman (TL: Decision analysis and policy support) has completed a report on her work with stakeholders from various sectors to identify strategic research priorities for mine waste valorisation and circular economy initiatives.
Teaching and learning
Training series: Mapping heat stress using Google Earth Engine
In February, Dr Bishal Bharadwaj (TL: Energy and development) launched the inaugural program of CIET’s new global training series with a keynote from Dr Bas van Ruijven. Over three weeks, participants from around the world learned how to code heat stress maps using Google Earth Engine. Spanning 14 countries, a 13-hour time difference, and, during our first session, a whopping 70+°C temperature spectrum (-30°C in Mongolia, +40°C in Perth), our program was truly international.
Climate change and future energy demands
With Dr Bas van Ruijven (International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis)
Myanmar heat map ?
Map by Mungunshagai Gansukh (Mongolian University of Science Technology)
Artificial night-time light data extraction
Led by Dr Sobia Rose (Pakistan Institute of Development Economics)
领英推荐
Short course: Financing climate action in Africa
Curtin has won a bid to design and deliver a $470,000 funded short course in ‘Financing Climate Action in Africa’ as part of the Australia Awards Africa Program in a consortium with Durham University (UK) and the Asian Development Preparedness Centre (Thailand).
The Curtin team includes Lead Dr Muammer Wali, Co-Leads A/Prof Habib Rahman and Prof Ruhul Salim, GEDSI Specialist Prof Nigar Sultana (TL) and Course Trainer A/Prof Harj Singh (both ESG, carbon and natural capital accounting).
Micro-credential: Net zero engineering fundamentals
Coordinated by Prof Vishnu Pareek and Prof. Eric Lilford (TL: Energy economics), this credential is designed to impart a comprehensive understanding of the significance of energy to a diverse audience.
The course is aimed at industry leaders, managers, experts, non-experts, and political leaders. They will gain insights into the critical importance of energy transition, as well as the essential tools, materials, and technologies required to achieve a net-zero future.
Executive education: Masterclass and Aus4Skills
Prof. Nigar Sultana and A/ Prof Harj Singh ran a Leadership in ESG Masterclass Series in March. This series was so popular that we are currently accepting EOIs for the next program in August/September.
This program is designed to provide leaders with a deep background to ESG and the regulatory frameworks which underpin it, in addition to strategies for ESG material risk identification, mitigation, measurement, and reporting.
Aus4Skills is a long-term strategic partnership between Australia and Vietnam, funded by the Australian Government, dedicated to empowering Vietnam with high-calibre professional and technical expertise.
As part of the partnership, A/ Prof. Lien Duong (Energy Markets) conducted the pre-course workshops for the course Building Blocks for Domestic Carbon Markets through Enhancing Greenhouse Gas Inventory and Reporting Capacity in March in Hanoi. Further education will continue in April.
Engagement
Check our EVENTS PAGE to keep up to date with upcoming conferences, speeches, workshops and other activities.
Expression of interest: Falling Walls Lab 2024
We are delighted to announce that Curtin will be hosting a Falling Walls Lab in July 2024! Falling Walls Lab is a world-class pitch competition and networking forum that brings together a diverse and interdisciplinary pool of students and early-career professionals by providing a stage for breakthrough ideas both globally and locally.?More information to come.
PhD scholarship opportunity
We are excited to announce a scholarship opportunity for an HDR student with a social science background interested in technology integration in society. The ARC Hub for Sustainable Crop Protection is funding this project, which will explore the social license and consumer acceptance considerations of the Hub’s innovative fungicide solution, BioClay.
Richgro BioEnergy Plant visit
Students from the Master of Climate Emergency were invited to visit the Richgro BioEnergy plant in Jandakot to explore potential pathways for addressing organic waste and generating renewable electricity from methane gas. Organised by A/ Prof. Atiq Zaman, this facility visit was a fantastic opportunity for students to learn more about technical and socio-economic aspects of anaerobic digestion (AD) technology as well as emissions reduction.
If you would like to organise a similar industry collaboration between Curtin students and your organisation, please get in touch!
Contact us to collaborate: [email protected]
Lunchtime lecture
Prof. Peta Ashworth was invited to deliver a Lunchtime Lecture at the John Curtin Gallery. She discussed the role of social science, humanities and arts in the energy transition. She outlined that too often, science is the sole focus of energy transition, but researching people, culture and communities is crucial to a successful transition.
If you couldn’t make it, keep an eye on our social media for the upcoming recording!
Upcoming events & opportunities
Petrocultures 2024
Call for submissions closes Sunday 14 April 2024
The Petrocultures 2024 Organisers invite proposals for: Paper presentations (20 mins), Standard and creative panel sessions (e.g. fishbowls and birds-of-a-feather sessions) (up to 60 mins), and Alternative conference formats (e.g. guerrilla theorising, creative activism design, unconferencing) (up to 60min)
Submit via email: [email protected]
Australian Hydrogen Research Conference
Abstract submissions close Tuesday 30 April
The AHRC Conference will be held in Perth 4-6 September 2024. The Organisers invites industry, policy makers, researchers and students to promote, review and discuss Hydrogen Research, commercial and policy developments, education and collaboration. Themes include: Production, storage, distribution and utilisation.
National Energy Transition Accelerator
EOI closes Friday 3 May 2024
Are you working at the forefront of Australia's Energy Transition with a ground breaking product or idea? The National Energy Transition Accelerator is an 8-week program designed to launch early-stage Australian startups and founders with high-growth potential developing solutions to support the resources technology and critical minerals sectors in the global energy transition.
Curtinnovation Awards
Applications close Friday 3 May 2024
Are you one of the world’s visionaries shaping tomorrow’s solutions? Curtinnovation Awards recognise and celebrate individuals and teams connected to Curtin through research, study, work or partnership who are developing innovations that will have a positive impact on society. An information session will be run at 11:00am on Wednesday 17 April 2024.
Sustainability Challenge, June 2024
This industry-partnered, challenge-based, intensive unit ?enhances learning through immersive experience. Participants design solutions for real-world sustainability issues with industry partners, academic mentors, and other students.
Online pre-learning activities begin mid-June, followed by one week of intensive face-to-face learning beginning June 24, with a showcase event on July 1.