As Australia strives to transition to renewable energy sources and achieve net-zero carbon emissions, Curtin is working with industry to resolve the major challenges – and seize commercial opportunities – in future energy production.
Our research into energy transition is market-driven and focused on identified industry requirements. It encompasses materials science and electrochemistry – particularly in the areas of hydrogen storage and lithium battery technologies – as well as sustainable engineering and energy economics.
Our strengths
Energy economics
Through the Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre (BCEC) our economists offer expertise in areas of energy economics, including carbon management and energy futures, rare earth markets and policy setting. In 2019, for example, the BCEC released a a research report in which they emphasised the need for WA to diversify its economy and develop emerging new sectors such as lithium.
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Fuel cell technology
Within the Fuels and Energy Technology Institute at Curtin, the Fuel Cell Research Group has been tasked with the mission of pursuing fundamental research in fuel cell and practical applications of the electrochemical conversion and storage systems including fuel cells, supercapacitors and water electrolysis as an economical and efficient alternative for green power and energy.
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Hydrogen storage
Curtin’s Hydrogen Storage Research Group is contributing to the global effort of hydrogen energy storage, with research into hydrogen storage materials for export, transport, or stationary energy storage; thermal batteries using thermochemical energy storage; and solid-state electrochemical batteries. In another major focus area, materials scientists are developing hybrid hydrocarbon-carbon fuel cells for long-life power generation.
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Lithium
Through the Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre (BCEC) our economists offer expertise in areas of energy economics, including carbon management and energy futures, rare earth markets and policy setting. In 2019, for example, the BCEC released a a research report in which they emphasised the need for WA to diversify its economy and develop emerging new sectors such as lithium.
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Oil and gas
The Curtin University Oil and Gas Innovation Centre brings multi-disciplinary research and development expertise to the oil and gas industry, and to the energy sector in general. Its research priorities include carbon management and energy futures, high-value diversification, infrastructure integrity and reliability, late-life asset management and decommissioning, reservoir management and productivity, and stakeholder and risk management.
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Sustainable engineering
At the Sustainable Engineering Group at Curtin, researchers are geared up to help new energy industry groups develop sustainability programs, including mapping by-product synergies, waste management and lifecycle assessment. The group is currently undertaking complex systems modelling of renewable energy integration into the grid, and reporting on public policy implications.
The group recently joined the national Heavy Industry Low-carbon Transition (HILT) CRC, which is tasked with helping Australia’s heavy industry sector transition toward zero net-carbon emissions by 2050.
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Key people
John Curtin Distinguished Professor Craig Buckley
DISCIPLINES
Energy storage, Hydrogen, Materials science, Physics, Thermodynamics, Xray scattering.
John Curtin Distinguished Professor Zongping Shao
DISCIPLINES
Chemical engineering, Electrochemistry, Energy and resources, Material science.
Professor Jacques Eksteen
DISCIPLINES
Chemical engineering, Extractive metallurgy, Hydrometallurgy, Mineral processing, Pyrometallurgy, Waste processing.
John Curtin Distinguished Professor Craig Buckley
John Curtin Distinguished Professor Zongping Shao
Professor Jacques Eksteen
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