Curtin Institute for Energy Transition

Funded PhD opportunity! Research the sustainable recovery of critical and precious metals from e-waste supervised by Dr Huan Li at the WA School of Mines (WASM).

🗓️ 3-year project
💰 AUD $38,440 p.a. stipend
🧪 Develop novel sustainable leaching and recovery methods for recovery of critical and precious metals from waste printed circuit boards.

For more information, go to https://research.curtin.edu.au/hdr-r-projects/sustainable-recovery-of-critical-and-precious-metals-from-waste-printed-circuit-boards/

Great to be part of Western Australian Marine Science Institution's Thinking Blue program!

As part of WAMSI’s Thinking Blue science engagement program, Professor Christophe Gaudin (The UWA Oceans Institute) and Professor Peta Ashworth OAM (Curtin Institute for Energy Transition) recently shared their insights into the growing role of ocean‑based renewable energy in Western Australia’s transition to a low‑carbon future.

From Albany’s successful M4 wave energy demonstration to the growing potential of offshore wind, our coastline is more than a natural asset – it’s a clean‑energy powerhouse in the making. The work shared with the secondary students highlights how wave energy can complement solar and wind, reduce storage needs and even support local industries looking to transition off‑grid.

Offshore wind is also emerging as a major contributor to Australia’s future energy mix. With larger, more powerful turbines and strong global momentum, this technology could bring real benefits to coastal communities, provided the environmental and social planning are right.

As the climate challenge intensifies, these conversations are vital. Ocean‑based renewables represent not just an energy option, but a strategic opportunity for Western Australia.

Watch the full Thinking Blue presentation 👉 https://tinyurl.com/y4nw8c4a

Read the full article 👉https://tinyurl.com/5ehpbd8n

Thanks to for inviting CIET to the Narrogin Energy Careers day! 👷👩‍🔧🧑‍🔬

As well as kicking off the presentations, Prof. Peta Ashworth facilitated a Q&A with the panel of energy employers and skills organisations. It was great to hear so many questions from students at Narrogin Senior High School and the WA Agricultural Collect about clean energy and how it works.

We hope that the day sparked their curiosity and maybe even inspired some to consider a career in the energy sector!

"When families can’t afford cleaner fuels and have no reliable waste collection, plastic becomes both a nuisance and a last-resort energy source," says lead researcher Dr Bishal Bharadwaj

Household burning of plastic waste in developing world is hidden health threat, study shows The practice is ‘much more widespread’ than previously realised, researchers say, with serious environmental impact

"We can't think about gas being available ad infinitum," says Professor Peta Ashworth.

Secret report challenges government claim WA gas will help world decarbonise A secret report undermines the WA government's claim that domestic gas production is helping the rest of the world decarbonise, while the state's own greenhouse gas emissions rise.

Congratulations to our Circular Economy theme lead Associate Professor Atiq Zaman on this fantastic achievement!

Meet one of Western Australia’s 2025 Young Tall Poppy Science Award winners – Associate Professor Dr Atiq Zaman.

He’s tackling the global waste crisis by leading the transition from a “take–make–dispose” system to a circular economy. Through zero-waste strategies, urban innovation, and global partnerships, his work is turning waste into resources and helping cities become cleaner, more sustainable, and more efficient.

Curtin University

The South West Interconnected System (SWIS) Transmission Plan is now available to read! Learn more about the plan for future transmission development within the SWIS and register for Energy Policy WA's webinar ⬇️

The South West Interconnected System Transmission Plan (the Plan) sets out the State Government’s vision for Western Power’s transmission network, along with the investment needed to deliver on that vision. Developed by Energy Policy WA and Western Power, the Plan builds on the extensive modelling and system planning carried out in the Whole of System Plan 2020, the South West Interconnected System Demand Assessment: 2023 to 2024, and the South West Interconnected System Planning Update.

The Plan aligns the future transmission build with the requirements of industry, population growth, decarbonisation goals, and the Government’s economic growth and diversification agenda.

📑 Read the Plan: https://www.wa.gov.au/organisation/energy-policy-wa/the-south-west-interconnected-system-transmission-plan-future-ready-transmission-network-was-main-electricity-system
📺 Register for the webinar: 9f272b44-b73c-4f11-a05e-25722cff30a2@9579ff32-858e-4871-8e7b-b71631866e71" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/9f272b44-b73c-4f11-a05e-25722cff30a2@9579ff32-858e-4871-8e7b-b71631866e71

🇮🇳 + 🇦🇺 This morning, we welcomed a delegation of Indian journalists for a briefing on energy transition in Australia

It was a excellent chance to continue to strengthen Curtin University's connections with India and showcase how we are tackling shared national and global challenges as Australia works towards net zero. Thank you to the delegation for their interest in our work and to DFAT for organising this visit!

Meet the three students headed to the 2025 Energy in WA Conference 💡🧑‍🎓 Congratulations to the winners, and thank you to everyone who applied - this year, we received a record number of fantastic submissions!

Last week, our Director Professor Peta Ashworth, joined other leading voices to discuss the future of energy with residents of St Catherine's College.

Are you a uni student interested in energy and decarbonisation? This could be you! 👇 Time is running out - apply by Monday 18 August for a chance to win a FREE tickets to the the Energy in WA Conference

📹 To apply for a ticket, please explain your specific area (s) of interest in energy and why attending the conference would be valuable for you via a two-minute (maximum) video.
⏰ Applications close on Monday 18 August at 23:59 AWST.
🎟️ APPLY HERE: https://tinyurl.com/ciet-ewa

Meet one of our fantastic PhD students, Desire Runganga! Desire is investigating the concept of mineral criticality and the role it plays in geopolitics 🌎💎⛏

Send a message to learn more