CMES Energy Futures Reports

The CMES Energy Futures Reports are published by the Centre for Multiscale Energy Systems, to reflect research conducted in the Centre and/or provide insights into different energy-related topics that are of public interest. Copyright for these reports either belongs to the authors or is in the public domain. These reports reflect the opinions of their authors and not necessarily those of the Centre.

What would be required for nuclear energy plants to be operating in Australia from the 2030s

24.01. Stephen Wilson, “What would be required for nuclear energy plants to be operating in Australia from the 2030s”.
The University of Queensland, December 2021, CMES Energy Futures Report, EFR-24.01

This report examines the feasibility of nuclear option for planned decarbonisation of the energy sector in Australia. A special attention is paid to Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) as an emerging technology in nuclear power generation.

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Feasibility Study of the Queensland Energy Plan

Supporting renewable integration: assessment of nuclear power flexibility

25.01. Laura Derambure, “Supporting renewable integration: assessment of nuclear power flexibility”. The University of Queensland, May 2025, CMES Energy Futures Report, EFR-25.01

This report examines the flexibility of nuclear power generation in France. Although the study focuses on France, its findings are directly relevant to the energy transition currently underway in Australia.

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The Cost of the Energy Transition

25.02. Harris Lynch, “The Cost of the Energy Transition”. The University of Queensland, May 2025, CMES Energy Futures Report, EFR-25.02

This report presents an independent, carefully executed study of energy transition economics under full decarbonisation by 2050. It is a valuable and thought-provoking work for anyone in Australia concerned with the future of the nation’s energy system.

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The Centre Events and Awards

Conferences and Related Events

Australian Combustion Symposium 2025
Clean Combustion in a Changing and Decarbonised Energy World
1-4 December 2025
University of Queensland, St Lucia Campus

The Australian Combustion Symposium 2025 (ACS-2025) was convened under the auspices of The Combustion Institute and hosted by The University of Queensland, with substantial participation from CMES staff, at a time of rapid and significant technological change across the energy sector. These are particularly exciting times for energy-related science, opening new horizons and opportunities for the Combustion Institute. Those opportunities were reflected in the symposium program, with more than 60 presentations from Australian and International participants spanning hydrogen and ammonia, carbon control and environmental impacts, batteries and bushfires, alongside a few other topics that reflect traditional strengths of combustion research. The symposium also represents an important step in preparation for the 41st International Symposium on Combustion (ICS-2026) in Kyoto. The ACS closing ceremony was combined with the CMES annual awards.

Professor Jose Torero from University College London presented the opening Bilger Lecture, giving an insightful perspective on the broader role of carbon-neutral processes in nature, while Professor Zhuyin Ren from Tsinghua University delivered an excellent Keynote Lecture on the “Implications of transport properties for flame dynamics and NOx formation in hydrogen-fuelled gas turbines”.
The Bilger Award Committee's decision to confer the Bilger Early Career Research Award on Dr Andrew Macfarlane was announced at the symposium. The organising committee also congratulates Professor Masri on his election as President-elect of The Combustion Institute.