What it is
Ross Garnaut, one of Australia's leading economists, argues that Australia has the natural resources to become a global renewable energy superpower. With vast solar and wind resources, proximity to Asian markets, and existing mining infrastructure, Australia could export green hydrogen and processed metals at scale. Published in 2019, its thesis has only strengthened.
Why we picked this
This book reframes the green transition as a geoeconomic opportunity rather than a cost. Garnaut shows how resource-rich nations can build new export industries around cheap renewable energy. The Western Green Energy Hub proposal he references illustrates the scale of what is possible.
Key takeaways
- The Western Green Energy Hub proposal envisions 50 GW of hybrid wind and solar producing over 3 million tonnes per year of renewable hydrogen.
- Green hydrogen must reach approximately $2.0-2.9/kg to beat projected 2030 costs of steam methane reforming with carbon capture, a target increasingly within reach.
- Australia receives more solar radiation per square meter than any other continent, making it the natural location for energy-intensive green manufacturing.