Joint Media Release

The Franco-Australian Centre for Energy Transition (FACET) is pleased to announce the first six recipients of the 2024 FACET grant, marking a significant step forward in fostering collaborative energy transition projects between France and Australia. This initiative is backed by financial support from both the French and Australian governments, each committing approximatively €1 million and AUD 1 million annually until 2027. This large-scale partnership is an unprecedented example of France and Australia’s shared commitment to advancing their bilateral roadmap in sustainable development and a greener future. In 2024 alone, FACET has already invested AUD 3.5 million, with additional co-investment from project partners, underscoring the centre’s value to both French and Australian companies. This initiative comes at a time when the energy transition is of increasing economic and political significance, highlighting the need for international cooperation in addressing critical energy challenges. On October 28th, at the inaugural symposium held in Melbourne, the six projects approved by the FACET Steering Committee were officially announced. These initiatives include two strategic programs designed to promote the adoption of innovative solutions by startups and to prepare the future energy workforce, alongside four applied research grants aimed at developing new French-Australian industrial-scale demonstrators. This year, FACET has expanded beyond its founding partners—the CEA Research and Innovation Centre, the University of Grenoble Alps, and Swinburne University of Technology (Host)—to include seven new academic partners across Australia and France: University of Sydney, Victoria University, Flinders University, and University of Adelaide, along with French institutions such as the East Paris Institute of Chemistry and Materials Science (ICMPE) and CNRS' CROSSING lab. In addition, more companies have joined FACET, bringing our network of First Movers in industry collaboration to over 20. These initial projects are helping FACET extend its reach beyond Victoria into New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, and soon Western Australia, where an expert delegation from CEA, alongside a Business France mission on critical minerals with 30 French companies, will visit as part of the IMARC conference in Sydney. 6 projects launched in 2024 for an investment of 3.5 M AUD by FACET and its partners In collaboration with CEA, the Australian Group Downer is spearheading the development of a pilot industrial demonstrator for e-fuel production, targeting maritime and aviation sectors. This project will pave the way for synthetic fuel production in Australia, addressing emissions in hard-to-decarbonize industries. The team will work with FACET’s ‘First Movers’ companies, including end-user such as Airbus, CMA CGM & Safran, on the study. Murray Richards, Executive General Manager of Downer, highlighted the importance of collaboration, saying, "The energy transition is a complex challenge that requires collaboration and innovation. By working closely with universities, research institutions, and industry, we can unlock practical solutions that drive real impact." The EDF x FACET x Swinburne Startup Programme aims to connect French and Australian companies with startups offering innovative solutions for key energy transition challenges, such as energy storage, renewable energy, and transmission infrastructure. Startups will receive essential commercial and technical support through partnerships and access to EDF’s global network, accelerating Australia’s energy transformation. James Katsikas, CEO of EDF Australia, expressed his excitement about the collaboration, stating, "We are deeply committed to the global fight against climate change. This partnership enables us to combine that global expertise with local innovation to work alongside dynamic startups and to find new and impactful solutions that can accelerate Australia’s energy transition." FACET is also advancing three major applied research projects. One project, in collaboration with Flinders University, ICMPE, and CEA , will focus on future battery solutions, developing rechargeable batteries using organic materials to reduce reliance on lithium, emphasizing sustainability and safety. The second project, involving SUT, CSIRO, and CEA , will enhance community microgrids using advanced technologies for energy distribution and resilience. Also working on complex energy system and partnering with UGA and CNRS-IRL Crossing , University of Adelaide’s team will leverage AI to create smarter, more adaptable grids capable of managing variable renewable energy. Finally, FACET’s Skills Roadmap initiative will begin a study to identify the educational needs of the clean energy sector, preparing the future workforce for the energy transition in both France and Australia. Download the full press release