Researchers, industry representatives and government will come together at CSIRO‘s Mayfield West site on 10 September for the latest New.E Knowledge Exchange Breakfast Forum, hosted by HunterNet Co-operative.
Tickets are now available for the morning event which will examine developments in Australia’s energy transition through presentations, discussion and audience questions. Topics include digital energy research infrastructure, industrial decarbonisation, manufacturing opportunities and supply chain activity relevant to businesses operating across the Hunter.
The forum is open to people working in energy, advanced manufacturing, infrastructure, research and the broader supply chain.
CSIRO to present National Energy Analysis Centre
CSIRO researchers will present findings from the National Energy Analysis Centre (NEAC), which was established in 2025 as digital research infrastructure to support Australia’s energy transition.
According to CSIRO, NEAC combines a distributed Living Lab with a physics-based systems modelling framework to help governments, industry and researchers analyse complex energy systems. The platform is designed to integrate technical and social aspects of the energy transition while providing access to modelling tools and curated datasets covering electricity, gas, liquid fuels, heat and connected systems such as transport and water.
During the forum, Dr Stephen Craig, Dr Adnan Qamar and Dr Tara Hosseini will demonstrate how the platform is being applied through the HILT CRC project, Unlocking Investment in Energy Infrastructure for Net Zero Industrial Hubs.
CSIRO says the project is developing scenarios for heavy industry to identify suitable energy mixes and infrastructure requirements while providing data-driven estimates of energy costs and energy flows to assist industry planning and government decision making.
“The project will provide clear, data-driven estimates of energy costs and most efficient energy flows within and between industries, at five yearly increments up to 2050 to inform government policy and enable the heavy industry to plan its decarbonisation pathway,” Dr Hosseini said.
Silicon manufacturing findings to be discussed
Bright Dimension Managing Director Dr Oliver Hartley will present findings from the Australian Silicon (AusSi) Pre-Feasibility Study Knowledge Sharing Report.
Hartley is managing the feasibility study for a polycrystalline silicon plant at the Hunter Energy Hub. The presentation will examine what the study’s outcomes could mean for Australian manufacturing and the Hunter’s place within the silicon supply chain.
Net Zero Economy Authority to provide industry update
Net Zero Economy Authority representative Chris Gibson will provide an update on Commonwealth initiatives supporting Australia’s energy transition.
The session will include information on the transmission infrastructure supply chain showcase delivered with ICN, together with other industry developments relevant to Hunter businesses.
Each presentation will include time for audience questions and discussion.
Industry networking at CSIRO
The Knowledge Exchange will be held at CSIRO, 10 Murray Dwyer Circuit, Mayfield West, on Thursday 10 September. Registration opens at 7.30am, with presentations beginning at 8.00am before concluding at 10.00am.
HunterNet Co-operative says the event is intended to connect industry, research and government while creating opportunities to exchange knowledge and explore future collaboration.
For businesses across the Hunter, the forum offers direct access to researchers developing national energy modelling tools alongside organisations working on manufacturing, industrial decarbonisation and energy infrastructure projects that may influence future investment and supply chain activity.
