Japanese MP, Ms Yuko Obuchi, met with the Solar Thermal Group at the Australian National University (ANU) to learn about hydrogen and solar energy research in Australia.
A guest of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Ms Obuchi, is the former Minister of Economy, Trade, and Industry and Minister of State for Gender Equality and Social Issues in Japan. Currently Ms Obuchi is the Chair of the Government Study Group for a Hydrogen Energy Society.
ANU Professor Wojciech Lipiski led Ms Obuchi on a tour of energy and materials laboratories in the Research School of Electrical, Energy and Materials Engineering and introduced teams of ANU researchers from the Research School of Electrical, Energy and Materials Engineering, the College of Law and the Energy Change Institute as well as their collaborators from the Australian Capital Territory government and the renewable energy consulting company, IT Power Australia.
The team provided insights into current and perspective technical research in energy and materials as well as policy and economics related to renewable production of fuels including hydrogen and synthetic hydrocarbon fuels.
Professor Lipiski said: “We were very pleased to have Ms Obuchi visit and take such a keen interest in the work we are doing here at ANU. We hope her visit will highlight the opportunity in establishing the renewable energy trade between Australia and Japan.”