Indo-Pacific Analysis Brief Vol 58
Western Australia’s role in the green energy transition
January 2026
By Alana Ford
Alana is the Centre’s Senior Research Adviser for Defence, Security and Technology. She brings to the role extensive experience working on these issues for the Commonwealth Government in Australia and internationally, and in both the think tank and technology sectors.
Key Messages
↗ The green energy transition is redefining power, competition, and prosperity. It’s primarily about decarbonisation, but it’s also a political and economic transformation.
↗ Australia, and particularly Western Australia, is central to this shift. With vast reserves of critical minerals and growing capacity in refining, hydrogen, and battery industries, WA is poised to become a trusted, strategic supplier in green energy markets.
↗ Energy, climate, and security are now inseparable. Building resilient, low carbon supply chains and value adding industries is both a climate imperative and a national security strategy, anchored in regional partnerships with countries like Japan, Korea, and India.
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Indo-Pacific Analysis Briefs
The Indo-Pacific Analysis Briefs deliver concise, timely insights on critical regional developments. Drawing on perspectives from leading analysts in Asia, Australia and the United States, this series examines emerging issues shaping national and Indo-Pacific policy.