Trailblazer tipped to accelerate Australia’s clean energy transition

The University of New South Wales (UNSW) and the University of Newcastle (UoN) announced on Wednesday they will lead an industry-backed clean energy and recycling business and research initiative designed to “help Australia and the world transition to sustainable recycling and clean energy solutions and systems”.

The Federal Government said this week it will contribute $50 million over four years as part of its Trailblazer Universities Program to leverage more than $220 million of co-investment from the universities and their industry partners. The UNSW and UoN will contribute $50 million in cash and $47 million of in-kind investments to the initiative. The universities said more than 20 industry partners have already expressed support for the initiative and have committed more than $130 million in cash and in-kind contributions.

UNSW deputy vice-chancellor Nicholas Fisk said the Australian Trailblazer for Recycling and Clean Energy program is targeting the commercialisation of at least 63 new products.

Development and commercialisation efforts will be in four priority areas: electrification, energy systems and storage; sustainable fuels and chemicals manufacturing with a special focus on Power-to-X (P2X) based production methods for hydrogen and sustainable aviation fuels; next generation solar PV and systems; and recycling and MICROfactories.

“Our projects, partnerships and investment under this initiative will accelerate a decade’s worth of change in just four years and create a legacy in industry-university collaboration,” Fisk said. “It is truly national, with projects in metropolitan and regional areas, and in all Australian states and territories, and beyond.”

The initiative has attracted 27 industry partners, including 23 small businesses. They will work with the universities to develop and research commercialisation initiatives for clean energy solutions and systems including developing ultra-low-cost solar with cutting-edge engineering and building the first at-scale printed solar manufacturing plant, providing the step-change needed to vault the technology to full commercialisation.

The program will also look to develop and commercialise lightweight hydrogen storage that can deliver for transport and fuel replacement needs, and also look to extend the success of green steel technology to other metals such as aluminium.

UoN vice-chancellor Professor Alex Zelinsky said the program would deliver real-world outcomes and “accelerate Australia’s clean energy and recycling industries and bring more, greener technologies to Australians”.

“This program will transform the way technology readiness, commercialisation and industry-led research are prioritised, taught and rewarded in our universities with targeted opportunities for university staff and students to succeed,” he said

The collaboration builds on the NSW state government’s announcement that a $15 million Decarbonisation Innovation Hub would be based at UNSW Sydney.

The Hub is a key part of the state government’s Net Zero Industry and Innovation Program and will bring together government, industry, and researchers to fast-track technologies to decarbonise NSW.