Former chief scientist Alan Finkel will end his role as the government’s special adviser on low-emissions technology, which included looking at potential carbon capture and storage technology and green and brown hydrogen.
Dr Finkel was appointed to the role by the Morrison government in late 2020. The special advisory post was due to expire at the end of the year.
Alan Finkel has been tasked to look at Biden’s inflation reduction act and clean energy supply chains. Eamon Gallagher
A spokeswoman for Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen said Dr Finkel would instead retain a separate post as chairman of the government’s Technology Investment Advisory Council (TIAC).
She said Mr Bowen had directed Dr Finkel to focus the TIAC’s attention on the Biden administration’s Inflation Reduction Act, which includes a massive wave of investment in renewables, as well as clean energy supply chains.
The shift in emphasis for Dr Finkel comes as Labor waters down the previous government’s support for carbon capture and storage technology. More than a dozen CCS projects are in doubt after last month’s budget cut $250 million in funding for the sector.
