Three renewable energy experts from The Australian National University (ANU) have been appointed to the Renewable Energy Innovation Fund (REIF)’s new Industry Advisory Board.  

Announced by the ACT Minister for Water, Energy and Emissions Reduction, Shane Rattenbury, the new advisory board will provide advice on renewable energy innovation and investment priorities for Canberra. The board’s scope includes the allocation of $19 million, contributed by the ACT government's fifth Renewables Reverse Auction industry partners, to initiatives such as grants.

Professor Ken Baldwin who will serve as the Chair of the REIF board said that the ANU and the ACT Government have for many years collaborated in making the ACT a leader in renewable energy innovation.

“The Battery Storage and Grid Integration Program (BSGIP) - established at the ANU with support from the ACT Renewable Energy Innovation Fund - is one example where the University has partnered with the ACT Government. I’m excited to be chairing the Industry Advisory Board that will guide the strategic direction of REIF and the ACT Government’s renewable energy innovation and investment priorities, to ensure maximum benefits for the ACT economy and community” said Ken.

A Professor at the ANU Research School of Physics, Ken was the inaugural Director of the ANU Energy Change Institute which is now part of the ANU Institute for Climate, Energy and Disaster Solutions (ICEDS). He was also the founding Director of the Zero-Carbon Energy for the Asia-Pacific ANU Grand Challenge, an inter-disciplinary research program creating insights into new zero-carbon energy based export industries.

“The appointment of two other ICEDS colleagues to the Board – Liz Ratnam and Igor Skryabin – is a recognition of the key role that ANU plays in renewable energy innovation in the ACT” said Ken.

Dr Elizabeth Ratnam is a Senior Lecturer and Future Engineering Research Leader at the ANU School of Engineering and is known for her pioneering work on battery storage grid integration.

“I’m excited to have the opportunity to serve the ACT community in this role, guiding renewable energy investment in support of an accelerated renewable energy transition benefiting all" said Liz.

Dr Igor Skryabin is the Research and Business Development Manager at ICEDS, Convenor of the Master of Energy Change Programme, and Lecturer at the ANU Research School of Physics and Engineering.

With extensive experience in developing and commercialising renewable energy technologies and attracting investment, Igor is looking forward to serving the ACT community in this role and “…contributing to the growth of renewable energy industry innovation in the ACT” he said.

Read more about the Renewable Energy Innovation Fund Industry Advisory Board here.