GIRA Advances Industry Knowledge Through Active Research Program

As GIRA progresses through its establishment phase, we are already delivering on our core objective: driving high-impact, industry-relevant research to support Australia’s evolving energy landscape.

In parallel with organisational set-up, GIRA has approved and commenced a series of priority research projects. These initiatives reflect both continuity from the Future Fuels CRC and a forward-looking focus on the technical, economic, and organisational challenges of the energy transition.

An overview of these projects, along with broader updates, will be presented at the GIRA Industry Research Seminar in Sydney on Thursday, 21 May 2026. Further details will be released shortly.

Hydrogen Test Bed for Long-Term Testing of Plastic Pipes

A key success story from the Future Fuels CRC, the Hydrogen Test Bed at Deakin University’s Hycel facility in Warrnambool, has been reactivated under GIRA’s stewardship.

Through a partnership with Deakin University, GIRA is supporting the recommissioning and extended operation of this facility through to at least mid-2028. The test bed provides critical infrastructure for long-term performance testing of plastic pipeline materials under hydrogen service conditions—an essential step in validating the integrity and safety of future hydrogen networks.

Beyond Technical Risks: Managing Organisational Risks in the Energy Transition

While technical risks in the energy transition are well studied, organisational and “sociotechnical” risks remain less understood.

Building on prior research conducted by RMIT—Preparing for Public Safety Assurance in the Energy Transition—this next phase aims to translate theory into practice. The project will deliver a practical toolkit enabling industry stakeholders to identify, assess, and manage sociotechnical risks at the project level. This work is expected to support more robust decision-making and enhance public safety outcomes across complex energy projects.

Maximising Opportunities for Biomethane Grid Injection in Australia

Biomethane is emerging as a viable pathway to decarbonise Australia’s gas networks, supported by evolving government policy and increasing industry interest.

This project builds on a techno-economic modelling framework developed by the University of Adelaide during the Future Fuels CRC. The next phase will expand this work to assess biomethane project viability in real-world conditions—factoring in geographic location, network capacity, and operational constraints across Australia’s gas distribution systems.

The outcome will be a refined set of tools to support both industry and policymakers in identifying commercially and technically viable biomethane opportunities.

Developing Future Capability Through PhD Research

A critical component of GIRA’s mission is building the human capability required for the future energy sector.

GIRA is currently supporting 14 PhD research projects, including several adopted from the Future Fuels CRC. These projects span a range of technical and strategic domains aligned with industry needs.

This investment ensures that emerging challenges are met not only with innovation, but with a pipeline of highly skilled researchers equipped to contribute to Australia’s energy transition.

A full list of PhD research topics is available on the GIRA website. Stakeholders interested in collaboration or further information are encouraged to get in touch.

GIRA’s active research portfolio represents a deliberate balance between continuity and innovation—leveraging past investments while addressing the emerging priorities of a transforming energy system.

We look forward to sharing further insights and engaging with industry at the upcoming GIRA Industry Research Seminar in May 2026.