U.S., Australia Release Statement on the 2024 Ministerial Dialogue on Clean Energy

The second U.S.- Australia Clean Energy Ministerial Dialogue, held on Oct. 4, reviewed progress made under the Climate, Critical Minerals, and Clean Energy Transformation Compact established last year.

The U.S. Secretary for Energy, Jennifer Granholm, and Australian Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen, discussed advancing climate and clean energy cooperation, building on commitments established in the compact.

Ministers during the discussion re-affirmed the ambition for new areas of cooperation which include; supporting and securing clean solar supply chains, starting with domestic techno economic feasibility studies and Australia joining the U.S. Energy Department’s Long Duration Storage Shot.

Ministers also discussed noteworthy progress towards the enactment of vital initiatives under the Compact, directing the future pathway of their energy partnership. Some of the key proposals discussed include: starting two jointly financed projects under the Net Zero Technology Acceleration Partnership on grid modernization and integration of renewable energy sources and committing to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the U.S. Energy Department and the Australian Renewable Energy Agency during the remainder of 2024. The MoU incorporates knowledge sharing and technology cooperation with regards to hydrogen, energy storage, renewable energy and distributed energy resources.

Another initiative discussed was renewing the MoU between the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization and U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory; this would foster greater working relationships so that there would be better cooperation and detailed focus on research and development in the clean energy sector. The discussion also called for continued technical exchanges on trade and climate issues, including emissions accounting methodologies and emissions-intensity data to support the countries joint climate and green industrial goals.

The Ministers also discussed the intention to hold an inaugural Dialogue on Engaging Tribal and First Nations Peoples in the Energy Transition in October 2024.

Last month in Washington the U.S.-India Strategic Clean Energy Partnership Ministerial took place, where Ministers from both countries reviewed progress in fostering clean energy innovation, enhancing energy security, and accelerating clean energy transitions.