Australia’s recent pledge to reduce national greenhouse gas emissions by 62-70% by 2035 demonstrates the government’s commitment to developing renewable sources of energy for electricity generation. These capitalise on Australia’s abundant natural resources and encompass technologies such as solar power, wind, biomass, hydro and hydrogen.
The transition from fossil fuels to renewables also necessitates the development of new battery storage technology together with significant additions to the electricity transmission network. This masterclass provides policy-makers and planners with a detailed understanding of the key technical, economic and social aspects of renewable energy which will be essential to managing the energy transition.
The course will consist of short presentations, interactive discussion and case study analysis. It begins with a non-technical summary of contemporary climate change science and the need for targets to mitigate the projected impacts of climate change. The importance of the energy sector towards meeting these targets will be highlighted, along with an examination of the potential for transitioning towards renewables in Australia.
We will then explore the potential for different renewable technologies and discuss the economic, social and political enablers and barriers to their development. Solutions for firming renewable energy supply including batteries and thermal storage will be outlined along with approaches to combine renewables with other sources.
The program will conclude with considerations of future policy and planning issues involved in the transition to a renewable energy supply in Australia.
Through completing this course, participants will be able to envision and design a strategic plan for profitable adaptation to the energy transition.
About the facilitators
Dr Julian Clifton
Dr Julian Clifton is a geographer with twenty years of experience in academic research and teaching in Australia, south-east Asia and the UK. His extensive research into governance, policy-making and stakeholder management in development and resource management from across the world has resulted in over 60 articles being published in leading academic journals. This reflects a wide range of collaborations with federal and state governments, public sector bodies and non-profit organisations to deliver good business practices based on positive stakeholder relations. Julian is Senior Research Fellow at the Curtin Institute for Energy Transition and is working with domestic and international organisations to promote a just transition to low carbon and renewable energy.