In 2020, Victoria still relied on coal for 69% of all electricity generation; however, the Victorian government has set a target of 40% renewable energy production by 2025 and 60% by 2030. If we harness our plentiful resources, we could be leading the charge in renewables. Led by the Gippsland Tech School, students are being challenged to design an entire city powered by renewables like hydrogen, solar, and wind energy.

“One of our research goals is to create transparent solar cells with a natural appearance so that they can be used as windows that generate solar power.” For solar window applications, a perovskite film with a thickness of no more than 600 nm is sufficient to achieve maximal light absorption. But reduced thickness also reduces potential power conversion efficiency.

A significant, urgent and sustained reduction in emissions is required to reach greenhouse gas neutrality by 2050. A target of 50% reduction relative to 2005 levels by 2030 for Australia would be consistent with the required rate of emissions reductions to meet the Paris Agreement targets of limiting global warming to less than 2°C above pre-industrial levels.

This Independent Review provides a blueprint for introducing security, reliability and emission abatement into a policy area that has been recognised Australia-wide as lacking national direction. The panel has worked hard to provide a means of breaking an entrenched political deadlock which has reduced investment and stifled development in this country, despite our significant sources of renewable energy.

The RSV’s Executive commends the leadership of the Chief Scientist in the development and delivery of this Independent Review and the dissemination of its findings.