International Engagement Program (IEP) – enhancing Australia’s global knowledge of renewable energy technologies to advance innovation.
This program is closed.
ARENA has awarded $4.8 million in funding to 12 projects to support international engagement in relevant International Energy Agency (IEA) Technology Collaboration Programmes (TCP) and Mission Innovation (MI) Challenges.
The program will increase Australia’s capacity to innovate in the renewable energy space by strengthening international relationships and research collaborations, and by providing access to world-leading knowledge on renewable energy research, innovations and markets.
ARENA funding – $4.8 million
Representatives
Smart Grids Innovation Challenge – CSIRO
CSIRO will represent Australia on Mission Innovation Challenge 1 – Smart Grids. This challenge aims to develop and demonstrate the use of smart grid technologies and storage in a variety of grid applications. This includes demonstrating the robust, reliable operation of MW-sized micro grids in diverse geographic conditions.
Contact: Dr Brian Spak – brian.spak@csiro.au
Off-Grid Access to Technology Innovation Challenge – University of New South Wales
The University of New South Wales will represent Australia on Mission Innovation Challenge 2 – Off Grid Access to Electricity. This challenge aims to significantly reduce the price of renewable power systems for both urban and remote communities.
Contact: Dr Anna Bruce – a.bruce@unsw.edu.au
Converting Sunlight Innovation Challenge – University of Adelaide
The University of Adelaide will represent Australia on Mission Innovation 5 – Converting Sunlight. This challenge aims to discover affordable ways to convert sunlight into storable solar fuels.
Contact: Prof Gus Nathan – graham.nathan@adelaide.edu.au
Affordable Heating and Cooling of Buildings Innovation Challenge – CSIRO
CSIRO will represent Australia on the Mission Innovation 7 – Affordable Heating and Cooling of Buildings, to develop lower cost, practical alternatives to today’s fossil fuel based solutions for heating and cooling buildings.
Contact: Dr Stephen White – stephen.d.white@csiro.au
Demand Side Management TCP – Monash University
Monash University will represent Australia on the IEA TCP and for Demand Side Management (DSM). The DSM TCP focuses on strategies for modifying the demand of energy from end-users using technological solutions, regulatory or financial incentives, and other means of encouraging behavioral change.
Contact: Tony Fullelove – tony.fullelove@monash.edu
Oceans Energy Systems TCP – CSIRO
CSIRO will represent the Australian Ocean Renewable Energy Sector in the IEA Ocean Energy Systems TCP. This TCP carries out a range of activities to improve the viability, uptake, environmental sustainability and public acceptance of ocean energy technologies.
Contact: Dr Mark Hemer – Mark.Hemer@csiro.au
Hydrogen TCP – Australian Association for Hydrogen Energy
The Australian Association for Hydrogen Energy will represent Australia on the IEA Hydrogen TCP. The Hydrogen TCP aims to accelerate environmentally sustainable hydrogen production and widespread utilisation, to improve energy security and promote economic development internationally.
Contact: Prof Craig Buckley – c.buckley@curtin.edu.au
Solar Heating and Cooling TCP – Australian PV Institute
The Australian PV Institute will represent Australia on the Solar Heating and Cooling TCP, coordinating and enhancing Australia’s engagement. This TCP aims to enhance global knowledge and application of solar heating and cooling through international collaboration to deliver significant reductions in energy consumption by using passive solar and daylighting.
Contact: Ken Guthrie – ken.guthrie@setransformation.com.au
Bioenergy TCP – Bioenergy Australia
Bioenergy Australia will represent Australia on the Bioenergy TCP. This TCP aims to increase the uptake of environmentally sound, socially accepted and cost-competitive bioenergy technologies through sharing research costs, reducing R&D duplication, disseminating information on technology capabilities, and investigating barriers to implementation and contributing to policy development.
Contact: Shahana McKenzie – shahana@bioenergyaustralia.org.au
Solar Power and Chemical Energy Systems TCP (SolarPACES) – CSIRO
CSIRO will represent Australia on the SolarPACES TCP, coordinating and enhancing Australia’s engagement. SolarPACES coordinates international researchers and solar thermal industry experts to facilitate technology development and market deployment of reliable, efficient and cost-competitive concentrating solar technologies.
Contact: Wes Stein – Wes.Stein@csiro.au
PV Power Systems TCP – Australian PV Institute
Australian PV Institute will represent Australia on the PV Power Systems (PVPS) Technology Collaboration Program. This TCP aims to increase the uptake of solar PV through the delivery of quality research, data and information, positioning PV as a cornerstone in the global transition to sustainable energy systems.
Contact: A/Prof Renate Egan – r.egan@unsw.edu.au
Hydropower TCP – Hydro Tasmania
Hydro Tasmania will represent Australia on the Hydropower TCP. This TCP aims to raise awareness, knowledge and support for the sustainable use of water resources for the development and management of hydropower.
Contact: Alex Beckitt – Alex.Beckitt@hydro.com.au
Background and Overview
The International Engagement Program (IEP) was designed to support Australian representation and access to global forums, which are dedicated to creating and sharing knowledge on renewable energy research, deployment, markets, policies and regulations. The IEP provides an avenue for the dissemination of knowledge gained from representation to those who can benefit.
Technology Collaboration Programmes (TCP) establish international working groups to solve specific issues within the energy field, and to set in motion multinational energy projects. This initiative has been running for 42 years, and involves more than 6,000 experts from 51 countries. In the renewable energy sector, TCP groups focus on areas including bioenergy, concentrated solar power, photovoltaic solar power, ocean energy systems, geothermal, wind, hydropower and hydrogen.
Mission Innovation (MI) challenges were established following the 2015 Paris climate talks. There are eight challenges in total, seven of which are focused on renewable energy. Australia recognises that supporting the research, development, demonstration and deployment of clean energy technologies is necessary to transition the world’s energy sector to a lower emissions future. Along with other MI members, Australia has pledged to double government clean energy research and development expenditure by financial year 2020/21.
More Information
Documents
Program Funding Guidelines (PDF 161KB)
International Engagement Program FAQs (PDF 93KB)
Funding Agreement template (PDF 838KB)
More information
Email: iep@arena.gov.au