The Turnbull Government is providing $17 million funding for nine new R&D projects set to deliver renewable energy technologies and solutions suited to the 21st century.
Environment Minister Greg Hunt joined ARENA CEO Ivor Frischknecht at an event in Perth today to announce the funding for cutting edge projects – such as Curtin University’s project to create solar precincts for low income households.
The Government is driving innovation in renewables by aligning the nation’s big thinkers with industry needs, and strengthening partnerships between government, research institutions and industry.
The breadth of projects is significant, and brings utilities, network and power companies together with the mining, agriculture, finance and property development sectors to advance a range of renewable energy technologies including storage, solar, concentrating solar thermal, wave and biofuels.
The research institutions involved in the successful projects span the country – the University of Adelaide, Curtin University of Technology, the University of Wollongong, Australian National University, the University of Western Australia, Queensland University of Technology and the University of South Australia.
The successful projects will develop partnerships with at least one Australian research institution and at least one industry partner, and will address one of four priority technology areas aimed at helping to meet the challenges facing Australia’s energy market and future energy supply.
The nine projects were selected from a competitive R&D round run by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) and dedicated to industry-partnered projects seeking to develop and commercialise renewable energy technologies.
This is about finding real solutions that will deliver for Australian industries today and creating the blueprints for tomorrow that will help to set us up as a serious global player in a world increasingly powered by clean energy.
The collaborative partnerships developed through this timely R&D round will help ensure Australia’s world-class renewable energy research is translated into commercial outcomes that increase the economic, social and environmental return on investment in R&D.
(ENDS)