Energy Technology

The National Solar Energy Centre is a focal point for solar research in Australia, bringing together state-of-the-test facilities for solar thermal, solar photovoltaic and solar cooling research and product development.

The first of its kind in Australia, this large-scale demonstration site will be an international hub for researching and commercialising concentrated solar energy technologies.

Want to get the latest updates on CSIRO solar research? Visit our blog Solar@CSIRO for news, images, videos, and researcher profiles... as well as pop-up cards, hexaflexagons, desktop wallpapers and more!

As Group Executive Energy, Dr Tom Hatton has responsibilities across the Energy, Oceans and Resources domains supported by an annual budget of $220M.

The CSIRO Energy Centre in Newcastle is a state-of-the-art facility which showcases a unique combination of energy efficient building design and small-scale generation units delivering renewable and low emission power to the site.

Concentrated solar thermal (CST) power plants use mirrors to concentrate energy from the sun onto a receiver, where the thermal energy can then be used for various purposes. For example, to heat a fluid to drive a turbine to generate electricity.

CSIRO is a world leader in solar research. As renewable energy becomes more and more important to lowering greenhouse gas emissions, CSIRO is making solar power more efficient and effective.

Pioneering low-carbon, efficient energy systems for households, industry, cities and the nation.

Guiding Australia towards a low carbon future using knowledge of technology, economy, people and the earth.

CSIRO is using simulation modelling to predict the economic, environmental and social benefits of distributed energy to demonstrate its viability to stakeholders and the wider community.

Dr Glenn Platt is driving CSIRO’s research on energy efficiency and smart energy systems, improving how energy is delivered to and used by consumers, and developing cost effective technologies to cut greenhouse gas emission in Australia. Dr Glenn Platt leads a team working on a diverse range of energy efficiency and clean generation technologies, from new types of wind generators through to energy management technologies for your house.

We give you the low down on the right appliance for your home. Find out the cost of running and star ratings.

If you would like to visit the CSIRO Energy Centre in Newcastle, please fill in this application form. Places are limited and prior booking is essential.

In collaboration with the CCSD and ACARP, CSIRO has developed a database of fact sheets detailing trace elements in Australian export thermal coals.

Developing novel technologies which reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve the reliability of our electricity systems from the demand side of our electricity network.

Dr Paul Feron is both a team and stream leader for post combustion CO2 capture within the Energy Technology division.

CSIRO has established a team of building energy experts and state-of-the-art test facilities to develop and assess conventional air conditioning and new solar cooling techniques and technologies.

A three-minute podcast about CSIRO developing new technologies to use the energy from the Sun to boost the power of natural gas. (3:18)

What will Australia’s energy needs be in 2050? What challenges will we be facing? What can we do now? Members of the Energy Futures Forum discuss their experience in creating The heat is on report in this six-minute podcast. (5:32)

Dr Peter Eadington discusses how Fluid History Analysis has the potential to make it easier to find oil in Australia in this three-minute audio. (2:39)

The refrigerator is the single biggest power consumer in most households, so the development of a fridge capable of controlling its own temperature and power consumption from renewable-energy generators, will not only help the hip pocket, but also the environment. (2.59)

The Federal Government’s support for Australian-built hybrid cars, coupled with ever increasing fuel prices, are forcing Australians to think again about the way they move from A to B. In this podcast, David Lamb from CSIRO’s Energy Transformed Flagship canvasses our options. (6.40)

A joint industry/CSIRO forum in Melbourne today will examine the fuels of the future, in light of predictions that oil will cost between $2.00 and $8.00 a litre within the next decade. According to Paul Graham, from CSIRO’s Energy Transformed Flagship, the alternatives include biofuels made from non-food materials and even algae. (5:35)

A growing population and economy means an ever-increasing demand for power from Australia's existing electricity supply network. In this podcast, Dr John Ward from CSIRO Energy Technology talks about a solution to our growing energy needs. (3:47)

A new joint project in Beijing has the potential to answer the biggest environmental question of our age – how do we protect our atmosphere from the damaging carbon dioxide emissions from coal fired power stations? In this podcast, Chief of CSIRO’s Energy Technology Division, Dr David Brockway, explains a process which can potentially reduce CO₂ emissions by 85 per cent from power stations. (6:04)