In this issue we feature an article on the International Energy Agency’s Centre for the Analysis and Dissemination of Demonstrated Energy Technologies, familiarly known as CADDET.
CADDET, which is totally free to subscribers, offers you two truly remarkable services:
• access on line or in print to the most successful case
studies of energy technology throughout all OECD
countries, and
• the opportunity to display your project or your company’s
technology on-line to CADDET subscribers worldwide.
You can be forgiven for thinking there must be a catch. No service so valuable could possibly be free. Of course CADDET costs money, lots of it, but all costs are met by governments of the participating countries—in Australia’s case the Commonwealth Department of Industry, Science and Resources. The department also provides strong management support and funding for the Secretariat team at Aurora Energy in Tasmania as well as support for the website. To subscribers there is no cost whatsoever.
Australia holds the proud record of being the highest per capita user of CADDET case studies but has among the lowest number published on the register. Why is this so? Is Australia deficient in innovative energy technologies and applications? Of course not! But there is clearly some reluctance, or perhaps a lack of self-belief, in showcasing Australia’s successes in the international arena. The CADDET Secretariat will do the editorial work if you provide them with the raw material—the winning project, the innovative application, the clever energy saving device.
CADDET has two Registers – Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy—and as well operating GREENTIE, a type of energy Yellow Pages. All are readily accessed on the CADDET website—www.isr.gov.au/caddet Its highly effective search engine takes you immediately to the technology or project of your choice. Moreover, the site allows you to sign up on line as a CADDET subscriber.
May I commend you to go to the website and sign on as a CADDET Subscriber
– if you have not already done so – or telephone CADDET direct on (03)
6237 3530. My more fervent hope is that you will use CADDET to showcase
your first class Australian energy technology to the world.
Give it a go!
Visits to the United States . . .
During April I was privileged to be a member of both the Australian delegation and that of the International Scientific Union to the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development Round 9 meetings in New York—CSD9. From its beginnings at the Rio Summit in 1992 the Commission is preparing for "Rio plus 10" in Johannesburg in September 2002.
Although the Commission’s progress is painfully slow the UN debate and procedures were both fascinating and frustrating. The huge task is to find acceptable political and policy avenues which recognise the needs of both developing and developed countries. The former have low per capita energy demands but need to grow their industries —sustainability can be a lower priority.
The latter, while encouraging high sustainability ideals, have working populations and industries to protect. Australia is well respected for its constructive contribution to the debate and the balance of its views in seeking the way ahead.
It was particularly pleasing to have engineers and scientists enter the debate formally for the first time. Governments and non-scientific NGOs are powerful and vocal. The reasoned voice of science and technology was refreshing, constructive and appreciated by all sides to the debate. As for the future —there’s yet a long way to go!
. . . and to the United Kingdom
After New York I visited London. Here I had two exceptionally rewarding meetings. The first with our parent organisation, The Institute of Energy, revealed that they too had suffered falling interest, especially from the young, until they took strong action and developed both strategic and business plans.
They have a strong permanent staff and run a number of effective programs, several of which we in Australia could emulate or share cooperatively. In particular the UK Institute, like us, is building up its website—www.instenergy.org.uk and, among other initiatives, has moved strongly into supporting energy education and continuing professional development. The Institute has kindly agreed to assist us in moving in this direction and we look forward to a mutually rewarding relationship.
My second meeting, held jointly with The Institute of Petroleum and The World Petroleum Congress, offered the prospect of similar support, especially in education, focussed on our new but critically important oil, gas and petroleum members. In the main these members are represented by the Australian Institute’s Oil and Gas Special Interest Group currently being established. The Institute’s website is —www.petroleum.co.uk.
To all three organisations I extend the appreciation of the Australian
Institute of Energy for the warmth of their welcome and their offers of
support. It is rewarding to revisit one’s parents!
Martin Thomas AM
President