Towards an energy superpower

Australia’s reputation in the clean energy sector is complex. We are global leaders in the research and development of technologies like solar photovoltaic technologies. Our country also boasts extensive renewable energy resources and vast landscapes, which rank among the finest globally.

Despite this, our potential is overshadowed by the reality that Australia is primarily an extractive economy, characterised by mining our mineral wealth for export, processing, and eventual return as finished products.

To push the country forward as a global clean energy powerhouse, the UTS Institute for Sustainable Futures (ISF) has launched a report ‘Towards a renewable energy superpower’ commissioned by Climate Action Network Australia and The Australian Manufacturing Workers Union and Boundless Earth. 

The report was soft launched at the Parliament House and brings to light major industry opportunities for Australia in the global clean energy sector, based on a synthesis of existing studies and targeted interviews.

Embracing the clean energy revolution

ISF Research Director Dr Chris Briggs says, "Increasing manufacturing for renewable energy in Australia is important to increase the economic value from the energy transition, and to build local capacity that increases our resilience to volatile supply-chains and geo-political events."

Australia’s clean energy opportunities 

Becoming a renewable energy superpower is a grand challenge for Australia. 

It can also be seen as a commitment to tackling the broader challenge of global decarbonisation and mitigating climate change.

In any case, it offers a crucial opportunity to re-evaluate Australia's ambitions in the clean energy sector.

Outlined within the report are five priority opportunities that have the potential to push Australia into being a clean energy superpower, including: 

• diversified battery supply chains
• high voltage cable manufacturing 
• wind tower manufacturing and offshore wind port infrastructure 
• electric vehicle (heavy vehicle) manufacturing 
• solar supply chain expansion.

These opportunities not only hold promise for Australia's economic growth but also position us to drive the global transition to renewable energy.