Energy, Resources and Environment

The world contains more than enough energy and mineral resources to support a growing, increasingly urbanised population for many centuries to come. Our researchers are helping industry and government deliver it sustainably.

Research impact

Our Energy, Resources and Environment research helps industry generate more—and cleaner—energy and resources, and store and supply them in a stable, environmentally friendly manner, whilst accelerating society’s transition to carbon neutrality. 

For example, we are:

• developing next-generation solar-thermal technologies in partnership with ARENA and Alcoa, potentially to displace the need for natural gas and decrease operating fuel costs in large-scale industrial processes
• investigating ways to improve production and distribution of future renewable fuels, such as hydrogen, biogas, methanol and ammonia, through the Future Fuels CRC
• enhancing the economic and environmental sustainability of copper production from iron oxide-copper-gold-uranium resources through the ARC Research Hub for Australian Copper-Uranium by developing new scalable, cost-effective methods for removing non-target metals from copper concentrates
• building an enhanced baseline picture of the Great Australian Bight’s seafloor geology, in collaboration with the CSIRO and Chevron Australia to inform environmental management and reduce petroleum exploration uncertainties.

An early initiative of the theme has been the publication of Power and Renewable Energy - Energy capability within the Faculty of Engineering, Computer and Mathematical Sciences. This document identifies the research expertise aligned with the electricity and renewable energy sector and which is focused on transitioning Australia to more a sustainable energy future.

Strong industry links

Our Energy, Resources and Environment research is interdisciplinary and outward facing, with strong links to industry and government across multiple sectors.

We are closely involved with:

• ARENA (Australian Renewable Energy Agency), Australia’s peak government organisation on clean energy technology
• METS (Mining Equipment, Technology and Services) Ignited Industry Growth Centre
• NERA (National Energy Resources Australia) Industry Growth Centre
• South Australian Government (Department for Industry and Skills, Department for Energy and Mining, Department for Environment and Water, Renewables SA, SA Water)
• several major national and multinational energy and resources companies, including Santos, Woodside, Chevron and BHP.