Decarbonizing Australia’s biggest university

Monash, Australia’s biggest university located in Melbourne, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with ENGIE to co-develop scalable zero-carbon solutions that accelerate the implementation of Monash’s Net Zero Initiative, winner of the 2018 United Nations ‘Momentum for Change’ Award.

Tractebel’s 360° City Scan pinpoints areas for sustainable urban transformation

Our Urban experts were mandated by ENGIE to perform their in-house developed 360° City Scan at the Clayton Campus and the Monash Technology Precinct. The output provided key insights on how well evolved the precinct is for efficiency, inclusiveness, attractivity, productiveness, resilience, and connectivity.  

The results will help to guide the development and prioritisation of integrated solutions across both the campus and precinct to activate a thriving community. 

A blueprint for liveable, sustainable cities

The collaboration to be developed under the MoU will be used as a blueprint to expanding Net Zero solutions to large cities and major precincts worldwide. Led by Professor Rob Raven from the Monash Sustainable Development Institute, the program will combine research, education and translation activities. The Monash Technology Precinct, with the Clayton Campus at its heart, will serve as a testbed for accelerating the transition to net zero across key sectors including, energy, mobility and buildings.

Professor Ken Sloan, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Enterprise and Governance), said the opportunities being explored would be an important step towards implementing the university’s Net Zero Initiative. “It will harness multidisciplinary expertise to tackle the critical global challenge of reducing carbon emissions before the irreversible impacts of climate change are felt by the world’s ecosystems, societies and economies,” said Professor Sloan.

Augustin Honorat, Chief Executive Officer of ENGIE Australia & New Zealand, praised Monash University for their early adoption of a net zero emissions target as well as capturing knowledge for future innovations. “ENGIE is excited to sign the MoU and looks forward to working with Monash to help achieve their net zero target by 2030 and to accelerate, together, the global transition to net zero emissions,” Mr. Honorat said. “We’re looking forward to bringing ENGIE’s global expertise to projects undertaken as part of the MoU and to any future collaboration with Monash to demonstrate our solutions in a local context.” 

The Monash University MoU represents the second large-scale deployment of Tractebel’s 360° City Scan in Australia. The first was the Greater Springfield project, where the tool served to define ambitions and to project various scenarios for the city’s goal to become an exemplary net-zero emissions city by 2038.

Monash University, Melbourne, Australia