Geoff Hill’s (left) company in Armadale diversified from making potters’ wheels and craft goods to developing wind power turbines. He built the first wind farm at Esperance and exports turbines to Japan, North America and Europe.

“I am fascinated by the work of harnessing the wind to meet our energy needs. This is one of the windiest places on Earth – wind power is a terrific source of alternative energy in many parts of Western Australia.
There is something inspiring about using natural sources of energy, rather than fossil fuels. If we want to secure a more sustainable future, then developing alternative energy sources like wind and solar power is something we must do. We simply have no choice.”

Professor Goen Ho (right) has been at Murdoch University for 25 years. He has developed the Environmental Technology Centre to the point where it was recently recognised as a Regional Centre for the United Nations Environment Program.

“The Environmental Technology Centre is part of a global process of sustainable development. Through our links to the United Nations we are able to help bring WA environmental technology to the world, especially to poorer parts.

The ETC building is a living demonstration of the new world of sustainability. It has 60 new technologies built into it and is made almost entirely from recycled materials. WA is full of ideas that can help make a more sustainable world.”

FACTFILE
• Population growth and consumption are putting pressure on our global natural resources. Technology and aid for development is needed to help solve both problems.
• Western Australia largely depends on coal, oil and gas for its energy, with less than 2% coming from renewable sources.
• New projects in solar, wind, and biomass energy generation represent leading edge renewable technologies.
• Environmental technologies are a new WA export industry with the potential to assist in global sustainability.