AUSTRALIAN ENERGY TRANSITION RESEARCH PLAN
Design Issues Paper – Submissions closed
April 2020
The questions…
- Would you or your organisation be willing to participate with ACOLA in the development and ongoing support of a Research Plan?
- What should be the scope of the Research Plan (how should we define ‘energy’, ‘transition’ and ‘research’)?
- What processes and products should the Research Plan deliver?
- What existing research plans and design approaches can ACOLA draw on for the proposed Research Plan?
- How would you or your organisation like to be engaged in the development of the Research Plan?
- How should ACOLA govern and fund the development and ongoing support of the Research Plan?
- What do you see as the key risks that ACOLA will need to manage in the development of the Research Plan?
- Are there any other issues that ACOLA should be considering in the design of the Research Plan?
[Submissions and consultation closed]
Link to Design Issues Paper
OVERVIEW
Australia is a major energy powerhouse that exports energy to the rest of the world, yet we have one of the most difficult energy transitions ahead of us. While other global economies can utilise a multitude of energy sources to successfully undertake an energy transition, Australia has a high level of legacy fossil fuel use, one of the longest and skinniest energy networks in the world, no neighbouring countries with surplus energy, no legacy nuclear power, no cheap domestic gas, and limited hydroelectric infrastructure which is further constrained by Australia’s topography and hydrology.
While the energy transition to non-fossil and renewable sources is already occurring across Australia, there is no clear picture of the energy research currently underway to support a successful transition. Further, the international energy sector recognises that Australia has a unique environment, and subsequently unique energy transition research considerations that will develop over the coming decade.
The Australian Council of Learned Academies (ACOLA) is therefore undertaking a scoping study that will consult with a broad range of stakeholders from across Australia’s energy sector to inform the development and design of an Australian Energy Transition Research Plan (the Research Plan).
ACOLA is the forum whereby Australia’s independent learned academies come together to contribute to and inform national policy, and to develop innovative solutions to complex global problems and emerging national needs. Positioned at the intersection of science, engineering, technology, humanities, arts, social science, health and medicine, this collaboration brings together unique cross-disciplinary research perspectives not offered elsewhere.
ACOLA has established a Steering Committee comprising experts from Australia’s learned academies to develop the concept of the Research Plan, and is well placed to identify current energy transition research underway and gaps in research across multiple scales, from local to regional and international, and community to public and private. Further details about this project and the design consultation process can be found at www.acola.org/energy-transition-research-plan.
Acknowledgement of Country
ACOLA acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the lands and waters on which we live and work across Australia; and the continuing connection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to Country. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, and to Elders both past and present.
