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Held at the Steve Waugh Room, Sydney Cricket Ground, the Future Group event featured opening remarks by Simon Sheikh and a keynote from energy finance expert Tim Buckley, who spoke on the global energy transition. Rebecca Huntley joined him in a climate conversation. The program also included a DEIB session with Steven James and connection workshops led by Aaron Densham. Read more

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CEF drives action based on climate science. In 2024, renewables met 75% of electricity demand growth, led by solar. Electrification is accelerating, driven by EVs, data centers, and heat pumps. China leads in renewables and electrification, with strong 2025 momentum in NEVs and BESS. Read more

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To date, both the Coalition’s and the Government’s estimates of the price tag of building a nuclear industry in Australia restrict their analyses largely to costs incurred in the energy system itself. However, a redirection from a Step Change to a Nuclear Progressive Change energy scenario would, by necessity, impose many further flow-on costs to the Australian economy that are unaccounted for by the Frontier Economics modelling. Read more

The Federal Opposition’s proposal for nuclear energy would result in widespread manufacturing and industry job losses if enacted, including the almost certain closure of Australia’s mainland aluminium smelters by 2030. Energy modelling conducted by the Federal Opposition to inform their nuclear policy shows that under the proposal, industrial electricity use would collapse from the current level of 45.4 TWh per year down to 22.8 TWh by as early as 2035 – a 50% drop Read more

– Renewables accounted for 89% of new capacity added in the first quarter of 2025 – Solar and wind power generation up 27% year-on-year in Q12025 – Grid investment spending hit US$13 billion, up 25% year-on-year – China’s coal imports drop amid trade uncertainties – 7+ countries strengthen renewable energy cooperation with China Read more

Published on the Lowy Interpreter Opinion piece by Caroline Wang, China Analyst, CEF Read more

In his talk, Tim highlighted China’s accelerating leadership in the global cleantech sector, with a record-breaking US$2.1 trillion invested worldwide in 2024, up 11% year-on-year. He emphasized China’s dominance across the entire cleantech value chain—from manufacturing and R&D to domestic deployment, exports, and US$155 billion in outbound foreign direct investment (OFDI) since 2023. Tim noted that China continues to lead in firmed renewable energy, adding an impressive 50GW of capacity in the first two months of 2025 alone. The rapid rise of New Energy Vehicles (NEVs) and battery energy storage systems (BESS) further underscores this momentum. Read more

Tim presents at SPREE Seminar at UNSW. China is leading a global energy system transformation, driven by solar power and Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS). In 2024, renewables accounted for 92.5% of global capacity additions, with ongoing deflation and technological advancements in solar and BESS fueling continued growth. China dominates cleantech manufacturing, research, development, domestic installations, exports, and foreign investments. It also leads the world in firmed renewable energy, adding a remarkable 375GW of zero-emissions capacity in 2024. Read more

Tim’s presentation at Engineers Australia on April 3 focused on China’s dominance in cleantech, particularly in solar and electric vehicles, and how it is rapidly decarbonizing. He also discussed global responses to China’s leadership and Australia’s efforts to adapt, including transitioning to renewable energy and decarbonizing its electricity system. Tim concluded by highlighting both the economic threats and strategic opportunities that China’s rise presents for Australia. Read more