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Blue Energy Futures Lab

Collaborative research for a sustainable blue future

Evidence-based research at the University of Wollongong (UOW) is critical to inform public policy and industry to enable a shift toward sustainable offshore renewable energy that equitably involves and contributes to vibrant coastal communities.

UOW provides unique capabilities through a holistic approach to ocean and energy research in offshore energy domains. The Blue Energy Futures Lab is well placed to provide evidence-based advice to inform policy development, industry investment and community engagement.

Our vision and aim

To conduct and produce research that has real world application and impact, that reflects the wants and needs of community, that aligns with the world of industry, and that positively influences policy towards a sustainable future.

We aim to build and develop the capacity to co-design sustainable blue energy futures. We strive for equitable processes and outcomes in the future governance of our oceans.

The Blue Energy Futures Lab is a collaborative research network within the University of Wollongong.

As one of six proposed regions identified as suitable for the development of offshore wind, the Illawarra region will play an important role in Australia’s energy future. Energy transitions encompass all aspects of society; successful implementation of offshore renewable energy in the Illawarra will inevitably change future coastal environments, the social fabric of coastal communities, and the nature of future work.

Our capability statement [PDF 2.7MB]

Innovation campus from the air, looking north over escarpment and sea

About the lab

A developing and expanding interdisciplinary research team from the University of Wollongong and beyond, interested in the emergence of new offshore sustainable industries, such as offshore wind. Our research expertise includes areas such as law, social sciences, policy, economics, engineering, business, and marine sciences. 

We recognise that Australia is undertaking an immense task in transitioning to a low carbon economy and that offshore industries (such as wind) will play a critical role in decarbonisation and in the development of future blue economies. We recognise that this is essential in mitigating the impacts of climate change. Our research capabilities reflect the interdisciplinary nature of our research collaborations. Our lab will draw together researchers from a growing cross-section of the university.

Our work is grounded in respectful acknowledgment of the critical School of Law role that First Nation communities must play in sustainable transitions. We endeavour to continually recognise and respect that our research is being done on Aboriginal Country (both land and sea) and to ensure that this is always reflected in the decisions that are made and how we conduct the research. We are committed to working in partnership with local First Nation communities and Indigenous leaders and researchers to foreground Indigenous Knowledges in our research practices.

Faculty of Business and Law (BAL)

Business School

Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources & Security (ANCORS)

Faculty of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities

Australian Centre for Culture, Environment, Society and Space (ACCESS)

Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health

School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences (SEALS)

Faculty of Engineering and Information Sciences

School of Civil, Mining and Environmental Engineering

School of Electrical, Computer and Telecommunications Engineering

UOW Research and Innovation

Sustainable Buildings Research Centre (SBRC)

Energy Futures Network 

Download the EFN capability statement here (PDF: 2.4MB)

Public submissions

Download the submission here [PDF 506KB]

Summary of our feedback and recommendations:

"As detailed further in the attached report, as a collective group of academics from diverse disciplinary backgrounds we support an accelerated movement towards a renewable energy future. We strongly endorse a rapid movement towards decarbonisation of our current energy base in order to contribute to global efforts to mitigate and address climate change. We believe all parts of Australia will need to play their part in this transition and as a region the Illawarra is both well suited, and strongly positioned to play a lead role in this. We therefore are working from the basis of in principle support for the development of offshore wind in the Illawarra, but with a firm commitment towards ensuring that these developments are done to the highest environmental, social and cultural standards.

As a University, we stand ready to play our part in ensuring that offshore wind, if it is to be developed in our region, can be underpinned by independent and rigorous research. We also believe UOW can play a critical role in training the skilled professionals that will be required to develop, assess and monitor the industry.

As detailed in the attached report, we put forward the following priority recommendations for consideration."

The researchers put forward several priority recommendations for consideration, including:

  • The development of a workforce with the necessary knowledge and skills to drive innovation, research, and implementation.
  • Greater oversight and planning in relation to key aspects of the assessment and approvals process
  • Broader regional and national scale assessments conducted independently by trusted research institutions, to inform (but not replace) site-specific assessments by developers. 
  • First Nations engagement and partnership should be prioritised to avoid ‘terra nullius’ style assumptions and a coordinated approach to avoid unnecessary consultation burdens on First Nations organisations.
  • Government education, intervention, guidance and regulation to ensure the planning process maximises community benefits.

The Blue Energy Futures Lab has no external funding. It is an internal collaboration space supported by the University of Wollongong’s Global Challenges program

Access the FAQs here

Camille Goodman and Michelle Voyer, Submission to the Senate Environment and Communications Legislation Committee Inquiry into the Offshore Electricity Infrastructure Legislation Amendment Bill 2022, 1 November 2022

Download the submission PDF 208KB

Offshore wind diagram depicting turbines and substations connected to onshore transmission infrastructure via a submarine cable. The image also shows of the regulatory framework for offshore wind in Australia, including the maritime zones established under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, and the Australian domestic framework established by the Offshore Constitutional Settlement.

Figure 1: Image by Dr. Camille Goodman showing the regulatory framework for offshore wind in Australia

The image is a graphical representation of the elements involved in offshore wind, with a focus on the regulatory framework for offshore wind in Australia. The graphic shows offshore turbines and substations connected to on-shore transmission infrastructure by a submarine cable. The image also depicts the regulatory framework for offshore wind in Australia and how it applies in the maritime zones established under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and the Australian domestic framework established by the Offshore Constitutional Settlement. The image is designed to help explain the complex system of offshore wind and its associated regulatory framework in a visual manner.

Read further about the regulatory framework for offshore wind in Australia.

ANCORS submission: Parliament of Australia website

Development needs independent and rigorous research

We (Blue Energy Futures) support the development of offshore wind in the Illawarra, provided the developments are done to the highest environmental, social and cultural standards. Everyone in the community can benefit from this, and we need to do it right.

Full story

Research and news

A snapshot of some of the recent and relevant publications by members of affiliated research Schools

Ocean Governance and Offshore Regulations 

Emotion/ Values and Environmental Change

Energy Transition and Energy Governance

Ocean Governance and Offshore Regulations 

Oceans/ Coasts, Culture, Emotion, and Place

Emotion/ Values and Environmental Change

Regional Transformation of Work and Economy

Energy Transition and Energy Governance

Indigenous Knowledge

Community Participation

 

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The Blue Energy Futures Lab has no external funding. It is an internal collaboration space supported by the University of Wollongong’s Global Challenges program.