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| Energy research and development |
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| Expenditure on research and development (R&D) in energy represented nearly 10 per cent of total Australian R&D expenditure in 2006-07. Spending on energy R&D increased significantly, from $828 million in 2002-03 to $2 billion in 2006-07. In Australia, the majority of R&D in energy is undertaken by private businesses. Australian businesses spent $1.8 billion on energy R&D in 2006-07, representing 90 per cent of total energy R&D expenditure in Australia. Australian and state governments invested 4 per cent of total energy R&D expenditure and another 6 per cent was invested by higher education organisations. The share of business expenditure in total energy R&D expenditure has increased from 80 per cent in 2002-03, while the share of government expenditure has decreased from 11 per cent in 2002-03. The share of higher education organisations expenditure in total energy R&D has decreased from 9 per cent in 2002-03. Fifteen per cent of total R&D expenditure by Australian businesses is devoted to energy developments. An increasing proportion of business R&D expenditure has been devoted to energy over the past five years. In 2002-03, the share of energy R&D in total business R&D spending was 9 per cent. In 2006-07, one-quarter, or $442 million, of business expenditure on energy R&D was spent on developments in the supply of energy. This includes R&D in energy production and transmission and distribution of energy to end users. Another $1.4 billion was spent on R&D in energy resources, which includes development of new fuel sources and innovation in energy extraction. |
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