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The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation is Australia's national science agency and one of the largest and most diverse research agencies in the world.

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Powering transport

CSIRO is researching alternative fuels and advanced battery technologies to power Australia’s transport into the future.

The Image The Links Alt Text TeaserText
/multimedia/Algae-biodiesel-gets-green-light.html A picture of a algae. Algal biodiesel production could reduce greenhouse gas emissions, address future fuel shortages and create jobs.
/science/FutureFuelsForum.html A picture of a traffic jam. Articulating the challenges for Australia in arriving at a sustainable transport fuel mix.
/news/Lightweight-composites.html A picture of a car wheel. A new generation of super-strong, lightweight materials for road vehicles, aircraft, trains and ferries could help save fuel and cut emissions.
/science/AutomotiveOverview.html A picture of a multi-lane highway. Improved fuel economy and lower emissions is being achieved through innovations in vehicle technology.
A picture of algae.
Algal biodiesel production could reduce greenhouse gas emissions, address future fuel shortages and create jobs.

CSIRO's research is focused on the following:

Image of pouring liquid from a flask.

Biofuels
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An image of a drop falling into yellow oil.  

Coal to liquids
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A gas processing plant.

Gas to liquids
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Biofuels - Enabling large scale, economical production of second-generation biofuels. Learn more>
Coal to liquids - Coal to liquids offers an alternative route to transport fuel production. Learn more>
Gas to liquids - Developing technologies to economically generate cleaner transport fuels from the nation’s abundant natural gas resources. Learn more>
A scientist preparing components for UltraBattery.  

Ultrabattery: no ordinary battery
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A picture of a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle.  

Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle
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Ultrabattery: no ordinary battery - Advanced battery technology delivering low cost, long life, high performance power for hybrid electric vehicles. Learn more>
Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle - These low-emission cars can be used for transport and also as energy storage devices for the house. Learn more>

Transport is essential to the strength of Australia’s economy and way of life, however domestic and international oil supplies are becoming increasingly constrained. At the same time, Australia has large natural gas resources with the potential to provide a cleaner source of fuel.

As fuel prices rise, so too are the environmental impacts of powering our transport. The transport sector is the third largest emitter of greenhouse gases in Australia behind energy generation and agriculture.

To ensure long term security for our nation’s fuel supply, CSIRO is researching a number of complementary technologies for alternative routes to fuel production and powering transport that could lead the way to a sustainable future for road, rail, air and water transport.

Second Level:
Powering transport
Index of Powering transport related information:
  • Image shows man at computer using a modelling programme.

    Piecing together the global energy puzzle - delivering energy solutions for a sustainable future is a huge challenge, but through modelling future energy needs and impacts, and by expanding the information-base for decision-making, this task becomes easier.

  • Mr Justen Bremmell pours molten slag and alloy from CSIRO's bath smelting facility. Red hot molten slag material pours down a ramp out of the furnace and sparks fly. Mr Bremmell is protected by a full face visor and hard hat, and leather jacket gloves and apron.

    CSIRO Minerals uses great science to develop innovative solutions for Australia's minerals industry.

  • Intelligent Grid report: A value proposition for wide scale distributed energy solutions for Australia

    Wide-scale adoption of low-emission distributed energy could reduce the cost of transitioning to a low-carbon future by as much a $130 billion by 2050, according to a new report released today by CSIRO.

  • A picutre of two workers adjusting a steam valve.

    A new research centre dedicated to developing technologies designed to help establish sustainable, low-emission, geothermal cities, was launched in Perth today by the Western Australian Minister for Mines and Petroleum, the Hon Norman Moore.

  • 2008 Malcolm McIntosh Lecture

    Attend the lecture 'THE SUN- Our Energy Future' to find out more about solar thermal power and new technology concepts emerging in Australia.

  • Algal oil.

    The CSIRO Energy Transformed Flagship is undertaking a comprehensive research program to enable large-scale, economical production of second-generation biofuels that could pave the way for a sustainable future for road, rail, air and water transport.

  • A twenty-foot diameter ball mill rotates at a copper mine's processing facility in Chile.

    CSIRO is helping enhance the competitiveness of Australia’s minerals industry by improving the performance of existing mineral processing operations and developing new ways to extract value from low-grade or complex ores.

  • A thickner at Mt Keith, Western Australia.

    CSIRO works closely with its research partners and industry to ensure Australia's alumina industry remains competitive.

  • Mr Justen Bremmell pours molten slag and alloy from CSIRO's bath smelting facility. Red hot molten slag material pours down a ramp out of the furnace and sparks fly. Mr Bremmell is protected by a full face visor and hard hat, and leather jacket gloves and apron.

    CSIRO is working with industry to increase recovery rates, improve the handling of valuable metals and enhance operational practices.

  • Cover image of Ecos 153

    Australia's most authoritative magazine on sustainability in the environment, industry and community. ECOS is published bi-monthly by CSIRO PUBLISHING both in print and online.

  • Image of the front cover of the February 2010 issue of Process

    The February 2010 issue of Process outlines a number of technologies currently being developed through CSIRO's Flagship program that aim to provide a competitive edge for iron ore, gold, nickel and alumina producers. (12 pages)

Contact

Ms Lou Morrissey
Communication Manager
Energy Transformed Flagship
Phone: 61 2 4960 6140 
Fax: 61 2 4960 6021