New Curtin Institute to tackle the transition to sustainable energy

A new institute that aims to train and support the next generation of energy opportunity hunters to enable the transition to clean, sustainable energy has been officially launched at Curtin University.

The Curtin Institute for Energy Transition, led by inaugural Director Professor Claus Otto, brings together experts from a wide array of schools and faculties to conduct multi-disciplinary research and outreach activities to support the energy transition and embrace sources such as wind, solar, ocean, geothermal and bioenergy.

Professor Otto said transitioning towards clean and sustainable energy is one of humanity’s greatest challenges and the new Institute is committed to supporting this change to ensure a better, more sustainable future for all.

“Becoming sustainable requires more than replacing combustion engines with batteries. It means living together differently, and our role is to figure out what this different reality looks like, and to help create it,” Professor Otto said.

“To ensure the transition to sustainable energy remains at the forefront, we need to generate new questions and answers to challenge what we think we know about sustainable energy. Our team at the Curtin Institute for Energy Transition is committed to finding innovative solutions to tackle this problem through research, teaching and community outreach.”

Professor Otto said the Institute will not only provide a shared platform for research, learning and teaching, but it will also challenge and educate future energy leaders who are trying to make breakthroughs in this space.

“Conducting research is important, but we also need to train future leaders and educate the community about their role in the energy transition,” Professor Otto said.

“With the goal of empowering people to be part of the new energy future and a new way of living, the Institute brings together artists and writers, biologists and geologists, engineers and physicists, and philosophers and social scientists – to learn from each other and look at energy in a new way.”

Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research Professor Chris Moran said Curtin is a leader in sustainability and energy research and this new Institute will strengthen the University’s commitment to achieving a sustainable future for all.

“This Institute will help to promote sustainability and support Australia’s energy transition, while also supporting the growth of innovative SMEs and supply chains,” Professor Moran said.

“The team at the Curtin Institute for Energy Transition will work with researchers across different disciplines to generate creative ideas, solutions and insights that support energy transition, while also connecting with industry, government, and the local community.”

The Institute is hosted by WASM: Minerals, Energy and Chemical Engineering at Curtin University.

Further information on the Curtin Institute for Energy Transition can be found online here.