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Technology topics: Sustainability

Rocking on with hot rocks geothermal energy
The quest to make hydrogen the fuel of the future
Stormwater – helping to tackle Australia's water crisis
Making packaging greener – biodegradable plastics
Generating new ideas for meeting future energy needs
Biomass – the growing energy resource
Wind power gathers speed
Cleaner production – a solution to pollution?
Monitoring the white death – soil salinity
Fuelling the 21st century
More food, cleaner food – gene technology and plants
Harnessing direct solar energy – a progress report


Rocking on with hot rocks geothermal energy
Geothermal energy is a clean, green resource with the potential to power Australia for centuries.

Sponsored by:
ARC logoAustralian Government Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism
Australian Geothermal Energy Association


The quest to make hydrogen the fuel of the future
Australia and many other countries around the world are preparing for hydrogen to take over from fossil fuels such as oil and natural gas, and move to what’s being called the ‘hydrogen economy’. But there are some big hurdles to overcome before it can happen.

Sponsored by:
ARC logo Australian Research Council Linkage Learned Academies Special Project Grant

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Stormwater – helping to tackle Australia's water crisis
With reduced water supplies and a growing population, should Australians be letting stormwater go down the drain?

Sponsored by:

arc logo Australian Research Council Linkage Learned Academies Special Project Grant

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Making packaging greener – biodegradable plastics
Biodegradable plastics made with plant-based materials have been available for many years. Their high cost, however, has meant they have never replaced traditional non-degradable plastics in the mass market. A new Australian venture is producing affordable biodegradable plastics that might change all that.

Sponsored by:
DEST logothe Australian Government's National Innovation Awareness Strategy

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Generating new ideas for meeting future energy needs
Concerns about the greenhouse effect, smog and energy security have led to increasing interest in energy sources such as hot dry rocks, wave power and hydrogen.

Sponsored by:
DEST logothe Australian Government's National Innovation Awareness Strategy

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Biomass – the growing energy resource
Energy from biomass is sparking interest amongst scientists, policy makers and growers as they search for clean, renewable energy alternatives.

Sponsored by:
DEST logothe Australian Government's National Innovation Awareness Strategy

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Wind power gathers speed
Wind power is set to become an important means of generating electricity worldwide.

Sponsored by:
Pacific Power logo DEST logothe Australian Government's National Innovation Awareness Strategy

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Cleaner production – a solution to pollution?
What is cleaner production, and how can it help reduce pollution loads?

Sponsored by:
Environment Protection Authority logoEnvironment Protection Authority DEST logothe Australian Government's National Innovation Awareness Strategy

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Monitoring the white death – soil salinity
New technology is being used to help monitor the extent of dryland salinity threatening large areas of Australia's agricultural zone.

Sponsored by:
Land Monitor Project logoLand Monitor Project DEST logothe Australian Government's National Innovation Awareness Strategy

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Fuelling the 21st century
Fuel cells are an efficient and low-polluting way to generate power. The Australian Technology Park in Sydney has installed Australia's first commercial fuel cell.

Sponsored by:
DEST logothe Australian Government's National Innovation Awareness Strategy

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More food, cleaner food – gene technology and plants
Gene technology, also known as genetic engineering, involves manipulating or transferring genetic material within or between organisms. It has the potential to improve agricultural yields and reduce the application of pesticides.

Sponsored by:
CSIRO logo CSIRO Division of Plant Industry

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Harnessing direct solar energy – a progress report
We often hear about solar car challenges and solar heating, but will solar energy ever be a major energy source for industrial societies?

Sponsored by:
DEST logothe Australian Government's National Innovation Awareness Strategy

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