Clean energy transition and sustainable resources
We are leading the way to power the transition to sustainable resource management and an emission-free energy future. From wave, tidal and offshore wind energy to resourcing critical minerals and effective energy storage systems, we're paving the way to deliver the best practices in sustainability.
Research highlights
Our research at UWA is unlocking best practices to protect our ecosystems. Projects cover multi-disciplinary areas and tackle challenges for systems.
Clean energy systems
Our researchers are developing practical solutions to the challenges of Australia’s energy transition. UWA researchers bring significant expertise and capabilities to the design and testing of new renewable energy technologies, effective energy storage systems, and provide policy recommendations that support low-carbon energy solutions.
Cross-discipline energy expertise
Our renewable energy expertise spans marine renewables, biomass, geothermal, photovoltaics, electrical vehicles, and microgrids. Our aim is to develop new knowledge and advanced technologies for efficient, effective, and environmentally friendly fuel and energy use in the resources industries.
Explore our schools, institutes, and strategic research centres:
- School of Engineering
- School of Earth Sciences
- Centre for Energy
- AURIN
- Australian Plant Phenomics Network
- Australian National Fabrication Facility
- Renewable Energy and Microgrids research cluster
- Woodside FutureLab at UWA
- Centre for Mining, Energy and Natural Resources Law
- Future Battery Industries Cooperative Research Centre
- Future Energy Exports Cooperative Research Centre (FEnEx CRC)
Critical minerals
The world’s shift to clean energy technologies requires unprecedented quantities of critical minerals such as lithium, rare earths, nickel and cobalt. Our researchers are finding solutions to where and how we discover, process and distribute these to power the transition to a greener future.
WA at the forefront
WA is a global leader in the export of critical minerals. In collaboration with local and global partners, our researchers apply their expertise to find innovative ways to solve challenges spanning the length of the critical mineral supply chains.
Explore our schools, institutes, and strategic research centres:
- School of Earth Sciences
- ARC Training Centre in Critical Resources for the Future
- Centre for Exploration Targeting
- Centre for Data-driven Geoscience
- Australian Centre for Geomechanics
- CRC for Transformations in Mining Economies (CRC-TiME)
- MinEx CRC
- Centre for Mining, Energy and Natural Resources Law
Earth, water and marine resources
Our researchers are harnessing the power of natural resources to create renewable energy, find sustainable food sources and tackle climate change. Our expertise includes engineering, resource management and governance to tackle today’s challenges and prepare us for tomorrow’s challenges.
Sustainable use of resources
We work with local, state, and federal governments, industry and business, research institutions and the community to ensure we play a critical role in evaluating, integrating and distributing solutions for natural resource management.
Explore our schools, institutes, and strategic research centres:
Get in touch
To hear more about UWA’s extensive research, or if you have a specific enquiry, connect with us today.
Engineering an environmentally sustainable future
UWA is at the forefront of offshore renewable energy research. Our experts are integrating environmental considerations with engineering solutions to harness energy from the ocean. By collaborating with industry partners, we are improving existing technologies and developing new solutions that will survive in the ocean for a greener and sustainable future.
Explore our specialist facilities
- Coastal and Offshore Engineering Lab
- Centre for Microscopy, Characterisation & Analysis (CMCA)
- Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network (TERN)
- Bioplatforms Australia -Metabolomics Australia (MA)
- Integrated Marine Observing System (IMOS)
- National Geo-Technical Centrifuge Facility
- Transforming energy Infrastructure through Digital Engineering (TIDE)
- Wave Energy Research Centre
- UWA Centre for Offshore Foundation Systems