The industrial heart of the Illawarra could receive a multi-billion dollar shot in the arm thanks to the emerging clean energy industry, according to a new research paper. Photo: NSW Ports.
A boost for local manufacturing, more jobs and a more sustainable economy?
Research commissioned by Business Illawarra says it can happen here – if we take advantage of the clean energy industry.
It has unveiled the Clean Energy Roadmap for the Illawarra, developed by experts at the University of Wollongong, and backed by major industry organisations such as Endeavour Energy and BlueScope.
The paper identifies “once in a generation” opportunities for local businesses in the clean energy and manufacturing space.
Researcher Ty Christopher said the Illawarra had unique advantages and should move fast to make the most of them.
“Regardless of the particular technology, the opportunities for the Illawarra to play a role in a national supply chain are huge,” he said.
“We’ve got a smart workforce, education and research facilities, port facilities and we are a region that has traditionally made stuff.
“This is a huge industry at a national level.
“If we lean into our strengths we could bring close to four billion dollars of economic benefit to the region, with 1.5 to 2 per cent annual GDP growth every year for a decade and tens of thousands of jobs.”
Business Illawarra director Coralie McCarthy said the launch of the roadmap was pivotal for the region and laid the foundations for the Illawarra to lead the country in innovation.
Ty said the infrastructure was already in place to make it happen.
“We can give a shot in the arm to existing industries; we can boost manufacturing,” he said.
“We are good at making steel, and we can put ourselves in the position of being an advanced manufacturing and green energy hub.”
The roadmap is broken into five stages: refining policy; participating in the supply chain for hydrogen, solar, on and offshore wind energy production; building out the supply chain; diversification; and identifying opportunities to create circular systems.
The need to repurpose end-of-life solar panels and other clean energy assets presents another opportunity for regions with metallurgical processing capacities like ours.
The suggestions in the roadmap won’t happen overnight, but Ty said the Illawarra is already well on the way to reaping the economic benefits of a green energy transition.
“If we just continue the uptake of solar in our homes and businesses at our current rate there’s $71 million worth of benefits per year,” he said.
“That comes from savings on electricity, local jobs for installers and electricians, and the logistics of importing solar panels into Port Kembla.
“On top of that we need the uni and TAFE to train people.”
The main challenge isn’t technological.
Ty said most of the tech we needed already existed.
“The main challenge we face is social, and one of the purposes of the roadmap is to provide fact and research-based information for people about how much more opportunity there is in a clean energy future,” he said.
“Why not just give people good jobs that are sustainable indefinitely, instead of jobs that are only there til the coal or oil run out?”
To take a look at the report, head to Business Illawarra.
