RMIT University has secured nearly AU$5 million in funding from the Australian Research Council to lead the newly established RENEW Organics Hub, which will bring together academic and industry partners to support Australia’s energy transition.
The RENEW Organics Hub’s research framework centres on three primary themes: carbon recovery and advanced materials, renewable energy and fuels, and nutrient recovery and biofertilisers.
The cross-sector collaborative venture aims to accelerate Australia’s energy transition and advance sustainable waste-to-resource technologies.
Directed by Professor Kalpit Shah from RMIT’s School of Engineering, the Hub brings together a consortium of leading Australian universities, including the University of Technology Sydney, The University of Queensland, UNSW, The University of Western Australia, and Curtin University.
Key industry collaborators comprise organisations such as Melbourne Water, Urban Utilities, Water Research Australia, Saunders International, Water Corporation, EPA Victoria, and Barwon Water.
The Hub builds upon more than a decade of research excellence established through RMIT’s Resource and Waste Technologies research group, alongside prior ARC training and transformation centres.
Professor Shah noted that the initiative will leverage this foundation to scale patented innovations, such as the PYROCO technology, which produces sustainable biochar to replace petroleum-based materials, from laboratory settings to commercial deployment.
“RENEW builds on more than a decade of successful university-industry collaboration, patented technologies and demonstrated research translation, creating a national platform to accelerate the commercialisation of innovative waste-to-resource technologies,” he said.
Professor Catherine Itsiopoulos, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of RMIT’s STEM College, emphasised that the collaborative environment aligns with national priorities in energy security and environmental protection.
Scheduled to officially launch next year, the hub aims to deliver practical, scalable solutions that foster a resilient, circular economy across Australia.