AUSTRALIA S ENERGY FUTURE

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1 AUSTRALIA S ENERGY FUTURE Professor Ken Baldwin Director, ANU Energy Change Institute 30 October 2012

2 The The ECI aims to provide authoritative leadership in Energy Change research and education through a broad portfolio ranging from future energy technologies to energy efficiency, regulation, economics, sociology and policy. The ECI has the largest portfolio of energy research of any university in Australia: ~$100M in facilities and ~200 researchers The ECI is technology and policy neutral

3 A wide spectrum of Energy research: Technology Solar Energy Nuclear Science Fusion Energy Fossil Fuels / CCS Hydrogen Fuel Cells Artificial Photosynthesis Biosolar Efficiency Economics Regulation Sociology and Policy

4 ANU Solar Research ANU Research Capability ARC Centre for Sustainable Energy Systems 80 staff and PhD students, $9M income 2011 Research areas Photovoltaic fundamentals & solar cells Solar thermal power Photovoltaic-thermal hybrid systems National capacity building Substantial commercial interactions Links with ASI and overseas institutes The Future Cost reductions via learning curve and R&D Focus on R&D to capture commercialisation

5 ANU Fusion Research ANU Research Capability H-1 Major National Research Facility ~$20M, operating budget ~$1M p.a.: Super Science funded from staff and PhD students Research areas novel plasma configurations new diagnostics of plasma conditions National capacity building develop capabilities in fusion science build human capacity to leverage ITER The Future Engagement with ITER - an IAEA project to build a fusion power reactor: construction cost of $10 billion,10 year budget $4 billion - the world s largest science experiment

6 ANU Research Capability Heavy Ion Accelerator Facility a $50 Million national facility, operating ~ $3M p.a. Super Science funded 45 staff and PhD students Research areas Fundamental nuclear science c.f. nuclear power Applications - accelerator mass spectrometry - climate change monitoring of isotopes - groundwater flows / environmental discharge tracing National capacity building Sole Australian research training and education facility for BSc, MSc and PhD students in nuclear science International/national collaborations inc. ANSTO The Future Provide nuclear science research + training capability in the national interest ANU Nuclear Science

7 Biosolar ANU Research Capability Plant science strengths in College of Science Research areas World Leaders in: Photosynthesis Plant biotechnology High throughput analysis Ecology Economic Analysis Increased lipid content of algae and cyanobacteria National capacity building Major NMR and mass spectrometry facilities

8 Education Short courses aimed at government and industry 2011/12 Master of Energy Change from 2012 Undergraduate courses in Energy Change Research Provide a focus for large external research funding bids Proactively engage with industry and external stakeholders External Engagement ECI Programmes A single entry point for advice to govt. and industry Contribute to the ANU Institute for Public Policy

9 Public Policy Highlights Australia-China Climate Change Forum with ANU CCI National Energy Security Assessment Methods Advancement Project (NESAMAP - DRET) ECI submission to DRET Draft Energy White Paper ECI submission to ACT Government Draft Action Plan on Climate Change 3 ECI members / 9 inaugural ANU Public Policy Fellows Professor Warwick McKibbin Professor Andrew Blakers Professor Ken Baldwin Professor Baldwin appointed to the Project Steering Committee of the Australian Energy Technology Assessment (AETA) BREE, DRET

10 AETA Australian Energy Technology Assessment

11 Elephants in the room

12 Australia needs to address: Minimising government policy uncertainty Putting all energy options on the table (including nuclear) Removing fossil fuel subsidies Educating NIMBYism Elephants in the room Introducing time-of-use charging

13 Today Moving from the AETA LCOE s to examine the path forward: How accurate is the current levelised cost of energy (LCOE) data based on past experience e.g. the rapid decrease in the cost of photovoltaics (PV)? What technological developments and game breakers might affect the projected LCOE e.g. the development of new energy storage systems? What is the capacity of the technology to delivery future energy needs based on known resources e.g. wind and solar resource data? What are the policy and structural impediments and advantages in Australia for particular technologies e.g. access to the grid? What are the foreign investment and export opportunities from developing the technology?

14 First Keynote Presentation The energy policy context for the Australian Energy Technology Assessment Drew Clarke Secretary, Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism