Six leading Australian research institutions, including CSIRO (Australia’s national science agency), have joined forces with international researchers from the US, Canada, and the UK to drive innovation in clean energy production and storage.
This collaborative effort is part of the National Science Foundation Global Centers in Climate Change and Clean Energy (NSF Global Centers) program, involving an investment of over AU$118 million over five years.Australia, the US, Canada, and the UK have committed significant funding to address climate change challenges and work towards achieving net-zero emissions. This collaborative effort aims to tackle critical global challenges posed by climate change.
The collaboration has announced two multi-lateral research projects:
Electric Power Innovation for a Carbon-free Society (EPICS) Centre
This project aims to develop transformative computing, economic strategies, engineering solutions, and forward-thinking policies for a renewable energy power grid. It is led by CSIRO, AEMO, the University of Melbourne, and Monash University, with participation from the US and UK.
Global Hydrogen Production Technologies (HyPT) Centre
This initiative focuses on large-scale net-zero hydrogen production methods, including renewable energy-integrated water electrolysis, methane pyrolysis, and solar-driven water splitting. Australian universities, including the University of Adelaide, Flinders University, and Curtin University, are part of this international collaboration.
Climate Action and Research goals
The participating institutions will combine their resources and expertise to address climate-related challenges and work toward achieving net-zero emissions. This collaboration is crucial for advancing clean energy solutions.
The EPICS Centre will focus on addressing challenges related to stable and secure energy system operation, especially with a high penetration of variable energy sources. The HyPT Centre aims to pioneer technologies for large-scale hydrogen production with a focus on sustainability.
Mission Impact
CSIRO’s missions are large-scale research initiatives designed to make significant breakthroughs by working across the innovation system and facilitating collaborative research across various sectors, including industry, government, and science organizations.
This international collaboration underscores the commitment of Australia and its partners to accelerate clean energy innovation and address the challenges posed by climate change. The research initiatives are expected to play a pivotal role in advancing the transition to a more sustainable energy future.
