Spotlight on Presenting Committee Member: Australian Trade Commission
Showcasing Australia’s clean energy credentials
A resilient economy, proximity to the fastest growing region in the world, and strong government initiatives to address climate change, mean that Australia’s clean technology industries are poised for growth.
Australia – with its vast continent-size land mass – is one of the few countries in the world that has abundant natural resources in nearly all forms of renewable energy, from solar, wind, ‘hot rock’ geothermal, and wave and tidal, to bioenergy and biofuels.
It is also a world leader in managing water scarcity and has a wealth of commercial experience in environmental monitoring and remediation. Australia is known for first-class R&D. Renowned scientists work on innovation across the entire range of clean energy technologies, which are underpinned by solid infrastructure capabilities, excellent project management, engineering, design and construction skills.
The Australian Trade Commission – Austrade – delivers the Australian Government’s Clean Energy Trade and Investment Strategy. Austrade helps Australia’s clean energy and environmental technology businesses and services to grow through export and outward investment.
The Australian Government strongly supports the growth of renewable energy, and the industry is backed by world class research and development facilities and growing market demand.
The Government’s strategy seeks to capitalise on the trade and investment opportunities now emerging as a result of global efforts to tackle climate change and to enhance energy security.
Legislation is now in place to ensure that 20 per cent of Australia’s electricity comes from renewable sources by 2020.
The expanded Renewable Energy Target will be equivalent to 45,000 gigawatt-hours in 2020. This target will accelerate the deployment of a broad range of renewable energy technologies.
By the end of the decade, the amount of electricity coming from sources such as solar, wind and geothermal will be roughly equal to all of Australia’s current household electricity use.
Last year, Austrade assisted 98 Australian clean energy companies to win $76 million in offshore business deals, and facilitated foreign direct investment in clean energy worth $77 million.
Eight investment projects were involved, ranging across the industry from renewable energy and carbon capture and storage to water and energy efficiency.
These capabilities are evident in the Clean Energy and Environment Export Directory developed by Austrade. The directory showcases innovative Australian companies active in off-shore markets to showcase Australia’s clean technology capability internationally.
The national directory, the first of its kind, was produced by Austrade to support
Australia’s clean energy companies and is a valuable publication for those seeking products, services and technologies to enhance their business capability, and toreduce their environmental footprint.
The companies in this directory (which can be downloaded from Austrade’s website at www.austrade.gov.au ) reflect Australia’s increasing capability in environmental services, water, renewable energy and energy efficiency. Businesses in these sectors supply markets in Asia, as well as the Americas, Europe and the Middle East.
Similarly, Austrade USA has a dedicated Clean Energy Trade and Investment team, led by San Francisco-based Senior Trade Commissioner Nigel Warren whose team connects Australia's clean energy and technology sector with emerging commercial opportunities across the USA.
Specifically the team focuses on attracting new Investment to Australia inrenewable energy (solar, wind, geothermal, marine, bioenergy and biofuels), promotes joint R&D and new investment in carbon capture and storage and supports Australian companies to grow into the US market in key sectors, including energy efficiency, water technologies, sustainable urban design, and waste management. This USA focus is part of global Austrade push in the Clean Energy sector.
The Austrade team across the USA and wider Americas region manages a program that includes business missions focused on growth sectors and matching Australian companies with customers. One of the key upcoming initiatives includes a two week Australia - USA Water Series program as part of G’DAY USA 2011.The program is a series of seminars targeted at urban water management specialists, researchers, industry innovators, policy makers and senior water industry business leaders from the USA and Australia with the aim of fostering greater collaboration and growing new export and investment business.
For further information or assistance contact:
Carlos Munoz | Director - USA Market Development | Australian Trade Commission – Miami | 305.579.9765 direct | 786.390.6210 Cell | VOIP 404-364-8568 www.austrade.gov.au
