Abstract:

Decarbonisation of the energy economy presents a massive industrial challenge for society. In this talk I focus on just one element of the energy transition – the electricity sector. If we to meet rising global energy demand, not only will we require a huge investment in new generation assets to meet that growth, but we will need prematurely retire and replace of hundreds of gigawatts of coal-fired generation to 2050 with low-carbon infrastructure. As a result, the next 3 decades could require an average rate of installation of power plant which is more than double the last decade. Will this be achievable? And a second dilemma arises. Much of the burden falls to non-OECD countries China & India and this will present huge challenges for government and corporate planners and decision makers.

About the speaker:

Chris Greig leads both the UQ Energy Initiative and the Dow Centre for Sustainable Engineering Innovation. Chris is a Chemical Engineer having obtained his degree and PhD at the University of Queensland and is a Fellow of the Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering. Prior to joining UQ, he held executive roles in construction, mining and clean energy industries in Australia and abroad over a career spanning 25 years. He is a Non-Executive Director of Seymour Whyte Limited and has held various other coporate and Government board positions including as Deputy Chairman of Gladstone Ports Corporation. At UQ, in addition to being Director of the Dow Centre for Sustainable Engineering Innovation and UQ Energy Initiative, Chris is on the Advisory Boards for the Centre for Coal Seam Gas (Chair), the School of Chemical Engineering and the Queensland Geothermal Energy CoE and co-leads the Energy Poverty Research Group and Carbon Capture and Storage Research Group. He is also course coordinator for ENGG400 – Professional Practice
in the Business Environment. His main interests lie in Energy Transitions, Economics and Policy, Energy for Development, Mega-Project Implementation and CCS.