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PRESS STATEMENT by the Minister for National Development

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NATIONAL SURVEY OF ENERGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

The Minister for National Development, Mr. Kevin Newman, M.P., today released preliminary  results of a survey of energy research and  development in Australia during 1976/77. The

survey,which was carried out by the Department  of National Development,involved the collection,  compilation and analysis of information provided  by various Government bodies, educational and

other institutions and industry. Mr. Newman  expressed his appreciation of the ready co-operation  by those concerned.

Mr. Newman said that preliminary analysis  of the survey data identified 449 energy- research  projects being carried out in Australia during  that year. The total cost of these projects was

$24.8 million and they involved 1,057 man years of  research work.

Mr. Newman said that,of the total research  effort,179 projects were carried out directly by the  Commonwealth Government at a cost of $14.6 million  and another 183 projects were carried out in

educational institutions at a cost of $3.5 million. The survey indicated that research in the energy  area carried out by industry during 1976/77 was  valued at $5.84 million involving 59 projects while

State Government activity accounted for $0.9 million  in 28 individual projects.

Mr. Newman pointed out that coal research  accounted for $8.2 million of the total sum spent  and research into nuclear energy totalled $7.7 million. In terms of activity there were 100 individual projects  under way in the coal area compared with only 63 in

the nuclear area. These figures demonstrated the greater  cost involved in the high-technology nuclear area.

Mr. Newman said that 112 projects involving  research into various aspects of the use of solar  energy (including bio-conversion) were registered  during the year at a cost of slightly over $4 million.  Much of the activity in this area was within the CSIRO.

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The Minister said that the information  contained in the survey was compiled during 1978  and referred to projects under way in the financial  year 1976/77. In recent months there has been  a significant increase in activity in some areas  of energy research, particularly solar research,  and it seems probable that the actual amount of  energy research currently under way in Australia

is greater than that identified during the survey  period.

Nevertheless, the survey would provide a  useful basis for the National Energy Research  Development and Demonstration Council to begin  its operations. Mr. Newman said that in view  of the recent increase in activity there is a  need to further update the survey and determine  more precisely the current level of activity. His

Department had been instructed to undertake that  work as soon as possible.

The Minister stated that he expected that  the full results of the survey would be available  for publication within the next few weeks.

(Tables relating to the preliminary  results of the survey are attached to this release)

CANBERRA

25 June, 1978

"976/77 NATIONAL SURVEY OF ENERGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPÂ­

MENT - PRELIMINARY RESULTS

Table I Financial and Manpower Resources Employed in  Selected Areas

Area N o . of

Projects Man Years Expenditure $'000

Oil 31 104.8 1944

Natural Gas 4 3.5 97

Coal 100 291.8 8214

Nuclear 63 238.3 7658 '

Solar 93 139.5 3243

Biomass 19 39.3 791

Conservation & Utilisation 73 94.9 2598

Table II Financial and Manpower Resources Employed by  " Sector.

Sector No. of

Projects Man Years Expenditure $'000

Commonwealth 179 470.2 14556

Private 59 198.6 5843

State 28 45.2 904

Educational 183 343.4 3512

1976/77 NATIONAL SURVEY OF ENERGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPÂ­

MENT - PRELIMINARY RESULTS .

lable III Financial and Manpower Resources Employed

Code No. of Projects Man Years Expenditure

$'000

1 46 234.4 3808

2 98 241.7 7068

3 55 181.7 5326

4 119 184.2 3680

5 20 56.9 932

6 73 94.9 2598

7 38 63.6 1403

Total 449 1057.4 24815 .

Explanation of Code

1 Resource Assessment and Prospection

2 Fossil Fuels

3 Nuclear Energy (excluding uranium resource assessment and prospection)

4 Other Energy Sources (including solar and other renewable sources)

5 Energy Carriers (including electricity) ,

6 Utilisation and Conservation of Energy

7 Energy Studies (including data collection, forecasting, energy modelling, economic studies, environmental  studies).  .

