Low Emissions Electricity and Competitive Coal

Renewables and Hydrogen

Developing the next generation of energy supply

Photovoltaic Cells capture sunlight and can be
used to power onsite applications
or boost grid electricity

The major non-hydro renewable energy sources used at present are wind and solar, however there are also significant geothermal and wave/tidal opportunities.

CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research carries out much of the organisation's wind research. In Australia, photovoltaic cell research, development and deployment is carried out mainly through universities, and some private organisations.

CSIRO Energy Technology is researching and developing sustainable energy alternatives suitable for the market in the medium to long term. Research priorities include renewable energy technologies and energy storage; environmental impacts, particularly those associated with greenhouse gas emissions; and making renewables cost-competitive with fossil fuels. We are also working to identify the opportunities for research leading to the development of new materials for energy production. Options being considered include materials and processes for water splitting (to produce hydrogen and oxygen), photovoltaics (converting light into electrical energy), thermoelectric materials (that may convert heat differences directly into electricity), and piezoelectric materials (which produce an electric charge when put under mechanical strain).

Core competencies:

• use of solar energy in the reforming of natural gas and production of hydrogen;
• high temperature and high pressure chemical reaction systems;
• hydrogen generation, storage and utilisation technologies; and
• assessing biomass fuels and their performance in gasification/combustion systems.

Renewables and Hydrogen - Project Areas