As Australia’s RD&I efforts – at 1.68% of GDP – lag our international competitors, we run the risk of not undertaking the necessary RD&I to meet our energy transition needs.

In a joint statement launched at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan by EEC CEO Luke Menzel, we pointed out this discrepancy is especially so as energy RD&I comprises only 5% of our national RD&I effort – when the energy transition is likely to be the most pressing and urgent of the challenges facing us.

While energy RD&I efforts such as those through ARENA and several CRCs have made some progress to better direct RD&I towards parts of the energy system beyond supply, delivery and storage technologies, a fully integrated energy RD&I capability remains elusive – meaning our transition will be slower, more expensive and more emissions-intensive than necessary.

The joint statement adds to calls for Australia to increase its support for RD&I to at least 3 per cent of GDP, and adds an urgent increase of energy focused RD&I investment, consistent with the EEC’s recently released position paper Energy Research, Development and Innovation.

ERICA and the EEC also call for the establishment of a dedicated centre for energy integration RD&I, bringing together academics, policymakers, industry and NGOs to help develop knowledge, expertise and solutions to solve energy problems with an integrated, holistic approach.

Read the joint statement from EEC and ERICA here.

Read and download the EEC’s Energy Research, Development and Innovation paper here.