What do you think?
Rate this book
Powering Up: Unleashing the Clean Energy Supply Chain
Former chief scientist Alan Finkel shares his compelling insights and expertise and makes the case for Australia leading the way in the global transition to clean energy.
The clean energy transition is humanity's biggest ever economic challenge. In Powering Up, former Australian chief scientist Alan Finkel shows how to remove the barriers that prevent nations transforming from petrostate to electrostate.
Finkel considers the entire supply chain, from raw materials through power infrastructure, the workforce, transportation and household customers. He reveals the outlines of a new geo-economic order and explains in persuasive, practical terms how we can get there.
If governments, investors, industry and consumers get this right over the next three decades, history will judge us as the generation who ushered in the Electric Age and helped to save the planet. The world will be transformed – with Australia, if we seize the opportunity, as a global leader.
The clean energy transition is humanity's biggest ever economic challenge. In Powering Up, former Australian chief scientist Alan Finkel shows how to remove the barriers that prevent nations transforming from petrostate to electrostate.
Finkel considers the entire supply chain, from raw materials through power infrastructure, the workforce, transportation and household customers. He reveals the outlines of a new geo-economic order and explains in persuasive, practical terms how we can get there.
If governments, investors, industry and consumers get this right over the next three decades, history will judge us as the generation who ushered in the Electric Age and helped to save the planet. The world will be transformed – with Australia, if we seize the opportunity, as a global leader.
- GenresNonfictionScience
374 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 13, 2023
23 people are currently reading
130 people want to read
About the author
Alan Finkel
4 books2 followersAlan Finkel served as Australia’s chief scientist from 2016 to 2020. He is a neuroscientist, engineer and entrepreneur. He led the 2017 National Electricity Market Review and the 2019 development of the National Hydrogen Strategy, and chaired the 2020 panel developing the Low Emissions Technology Roadmap. He is currently special adviser to the Australian government on low-emissions technologies
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
September 7, 2023
The Supply Chain - An Australian Perspective on a Global Debate
Much has been written on the question of climate change and the move towards a carbon neutral future. But I had not yet read (or thought much about) the challenges of getting all the building blocks in place (infrastructure, transportation etc). It's all very well to get excited about solar and wind as our energy future - but much of this infrastructure requires minerals that are not currently available in large quantities - so new mines must be developed in an energy efficient manner and transported to the manufacturing site - wherever that may be in the world. Enter Alan Finkel - an Australian scientist and businessman who was appointed to a role as Australia's Chief Scientist from 2016 to 2020 where he provided high level advice on science, technology and innovation to the government of the day. Given his background, it is not surprising, and is quite welcome, that the book is heavy on the technical challenges and accompanying facts and figures. He makes some compelling arguments for Australia to play a leading role in this transition.
The headline news is encouraging - greenhouse gas emissions are down by 20% or more at several OECD countries (Australia, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK) between 2005 and 2019 (US down by 13%), but this is largely the result of transference of manufacturing to other lower cost markets (China and India) where emissions are up. Carbon neutrality is a noble national goal, but the issue is global. The author knows his stuff - the book is very readable even as he packs a lot of facts and figures into the discussion. He tackles the critics of clean energy head-on, noting that while there are challenges in connecting wind and solar power to the grid, this is outweighed by a number of advantages.
The author spends much of the book focused on the supply chain so that clean energy solutions can be deployed more quickly at lower cost. The Indo-Pacific accounts for 60% of global energy consumption, and has 65% of global rare earth element reserves, 89% of global solar PV module manufacturing and 86% of global lithium battery production. As he discusses the range of options and challenges that must be overcome to reach carbon neutrality, he discusses many of the start-up companies around the world that are addressing these issues. He addresses the opportunities for newer technologies to play a role (such as a chance for blockchain to track the the progress of the minerals used in production of clean energy products) as well as the potential for the World Bank to play a more assertive role. One of the themes of the book relates to respecting the rights of Traditional Owners. More than 60% of new mines will be on or adjacent to the land of Traditional Owners, so mining companies and governments must ensure that local communities are engaged in the planning of new facilities and are fairly compensated.
At a global level, in 1990 87% of all energy came from fossil fuels (the rest coming from nuclear, hydro and some other sources). Fast forward to 2021 and that number only decreases to 83%. While clean sources (solar and wind) increased significantly during this period, it was offset by an increase in total energy consumption of 72%, reflecting improving economies in third world countries. The year 2021 was a milestone year for the auto industry. Of the 66.7 million new cars sold, 6.6 million were EV's - a 10% threshold, largely driven by China.
He spends the final chapter discussing the opportunities for Australia in this new, decarbonized world. The lucky country could get even luckier as economic opportunity will abound for those who get in early .... but the time is now! The book was an educational and enjoyable read and yet another step in my journey to better understand the opportunities, risks and challenges facing our planet from global warming.
Much has been written on the question of climate change and the move towards a carbon neutral future. But I had not yet read (or thought much about) the challenges of getting all the building blocks in place (infrastructure, transportation etc). It's all very well to get excited about solar and wind as our energy future - but much of this infrastructure requires minerals that are not currently available in large quantities - so new mines must be developed in an energy efficient manner and transported to the manufacturing site - wherever that may be in the world. Enter Alan Finkel - an Australian scientist and businessman who was appointed to a role as Australia's Chief Scientist from 2016 to 2020 where he provided high level advice on science, technology and innovation to the government of the day. Given his background, it is not surprising, and is quite welcome, that the book is heavy on the technical challenges and accompanying facts and figures. He makes some compelling arguments for Australia to play a leading role in this transition.
The headline news is encouraging - greenhouse gas emissions are down by 20% or more at several OECD countries (Australia, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK) between 2005 and 2019 (US down by 13%), but this is largely the result of transference of manufacturing to other lower cost markets (China and India) where emissions are up. Carbon neutrality is a noble national goal, but the issue is global. The author knows his stuff - the book is very readable even as he packs a lot of facts and figures into the discussion. He tackles the critics of clean energy head-on, noting that while there are challenges in connecting wind and solar power to the grid, this is outweighed by a number of advantages.
The author spends much of the book focused on the supply chain so that clean energy solutions can be deployed more quickly at lower cost. The Indo-Pacific accounts for 60% of global energy consumption, and has 65% of global rare earth element reserves, 89% of global solar PV module manufacturing and 86% of global lithium battery production. As he discusses the range of options and challenges that must be overcome to reach carbon neutrality, he discusses many of the start-up companies around the world that are addressing these issues. He addresses the opportunities for newer technologies to play a role (such as a chance for blockchain to track the the progress of the minerals used in production of clean energy products) as well as the potential for the World Bank to play a more assertive role. One of the themes of the book relates to respecting the rights of Traditional Owners. More than 60% of new mines will be on or adjacent to the land of Traditional Owners, so mining companies and governments must ensure that local communities are engaged in the planning of new facilities and are fairly compensated.
At a global level, in 1990 87% of all energy came from fossil fuels (the rest coming from nuclear, hydro and some other sources). Fast forward to 2021 and that number only decreases to 83%. While clean sources (solar and wind) increased significantly during this period, it was offset by an increase in total energy consumption of 72%, reflecting improving economies in third world countries. The year 2021 was a milestone year for the auto industry. Of the 66.7 million new cars sold, 6.6 million were EV's - a 10% threshold, largely driven by China.
He spends the final chapter discussing the opportunities for Australia in this new, decarbonized world. The lucky country could get even luckier as economic opportunity will abound for those who get in early .... but the time is now! The book was an educational and enjoyable read and yet another step in my journey to better understand the opportunities, risks and challenges facing our planet from global warming.
June 25, 2023
Great stuff. It's a pleasure to read a book woden by an author who knows what he's talking about and knows how to communicate with the general reader.
The author is advocating renewable energies to replace fossil fuels and goes through every type of renewable energy and explains how it works and all the pros and cons and what stage of development it is at. He also looks at the supply chain required for each type of energy and discusses all the options and pros and cons.
The dangers of a country relying too much on a single source of supply for the different raw materials required for the manufacturing of renewable energies is also discussed, e.g. Lithium for batteries for storing wind or solar power.
The author is advocating renewable energies to replace fossil fuels and goes through every type of renewable energy and explains how it works and all the pros and cons and what stage of development it is at. He also looks at the supply chain required for each type of energy and discusses all the options and pros and cons.
The dangers of a country relying too much on a single source of supply for the different raw materials required for the manufacturing of renewable energies is also discussed, e.g. Lithium for batteries for storing wind or solar power.
August 10, 2023
This is a compelling read for anyone who wants to learn about our current state of knowledge of renewable energy production and the opportunities for some countries to take over from major fossil fuel producers (petrostates) and become “electrostates”.
The starting point of the book is that a major energy transition is underway – from fossil fuels to renewables – and there will be staggering amounts of raw materials and industrial processing needed.
This book is a goldmine of carefully woven information. It is objectively written and has a strong whiff of optimism, tempered by pragmatism. Finkel’s style makes the topic surprisingly easy to read.
See the full review at - https://www.queenslandreviewerscollec...
The starting point of the book is that a major energy transition is underway – from fossil fuels to renewables – and there will be staggering amounts of raw materials and industrial processing needed.
This book is a goldmine of carefully woven information. It is objectively written and has a strong whiff of optimism, tempered by pragmatism. Finkel’s style makes the topic surprisingly easy to read.
See the full review at - https://www.queenslandreviewerscollec...
October 9, 2023
Excellent review of possible solutions for our current and future problems in the energy and manufactured good supply chains. It is of course using Australia as an example for most of the book, but it is still very informative, easy to read and quite comprehensive on the possible future hydrogen economy.
July 8, 2023
A very important and clear roadmap for Australia's future if we are smart enough to take up the challenge. A must read for every policy maker and political actor.
August 18, 2024
Great overview of the electricity transition. Some insights I disagreed with but a great balanced view.
November 17, 2024
Brilliantly spelt out the transition to a new cleaner world.
A book that would cause the conspiracy theorists to have a fit.
A book that would cause the conspiracy theorists to have a fit.
August 1, 2023
A thorough summary of the logistical requirements of the energy transition and the implications for Australia, following up on Finkel's Quarterly Essay from 2021. It's focused on supply chains and goes into quite a bit of detail about "energy transition materials", i.e. all the stuff you need to build and run renewable energy systems, with lots of detail on hydrogen and a brief look at "ethics and social license". Environmentalists and climate activists will find some things to disagree with here (particularly his take on divestment) but it's definitely worthwhile to understand the sheer scale of the transition and the material inputs it will require. I was surprised to find myself having positive feelings about aspects of the Australian mining industry, something which has never troubled me before!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews