Monash University and Woodside Energy have renewed the Woodside Monash Energy Partnership for three years to enable further development of early-stage research and commercialisation to support Australia’s lower-carbon energy transition.
Through a joint investment of AUD$22 million, the next phase of the Woodside Monash Energy Partnership will focus on three new flagship programs involving direct air capture, large-scale ultra-low-cost solar, and biochemical conversion and recycling of mixed gas streams.
The programs aim to accelerate research that will result in pilot plants within the three-year period from 2023 to 2025.
Monash University Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Enterprise and Engagement) and Senior Vice-President Professor Doron Ben-Meir said Monash was committed to working with Woodside to help the company develop new lower-carbon products and services.
“We’re working with Woodside to help determine the best pathways and technologies to assist them to decarbonise their operations, and to provide the products and services needed to also help their customers decarbonise,” he said.
Professor Ben-Meir added that the partnership had achieved significant milestones since its launch in 2019, including establishing major research programs in new energy and carbon abatement, and progressing several research initiatives into commercial development opportunities.
“This includes developing large-scale renewable and clean energy systems for the production of hydrogen, understanding how hydrogen can be stored and transported, and developing carbon utilisation technology for hard-to-abate sectors,” he said.
“Our work with Woodside on direct air capture is capturing carbon dioxide directly from the air. By transforming this carbon into useful products, we may assist industries to decarbonise and meet their net-zero carbon emissions targets.”
Woodside Energy Executive Vice President Technical Services and Chief Technology Officer Daniel Kalms said: “Woodside has set a target to reduce its net equity scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 30 per cent by 2030 and has an aspiration to be net zero by 2050 or sooner. Alongside Woodside’s new energy opportunities in hydrogen, ammonia, and carbon utilisation, the Woodside Monash Energy Partnership is pioneering new technologies that will assist us in meeting these targets.”
The Partnership aligns to Monash’s Impact 2030 strategic plan and is working to address the global challenge of climate change through its emphasis on energy transition, with major research programs in clean energy and carbon abatement.
In 2021, the Woodside Monash Energy Partnership won the Australian Financial Review Higher Education Award in Industry Engagement, and an Engagement Australia Excellence Award for Excellence in Industry Engagement.
