NSW Energy and Resources Knowledge Hub supporting collaboration and innovation in the Region

The NSW Energy and Resources Knowledge Hub has continued to showcase innovation in the region by supporting several events highlighting exciting activity in emerging technology and innovation in the energy and resources sectors of the Hunter region.

Austmine Mining Innovation Roadshow 2025 - Forging the Future: Innovation in Resources

The Newcastle Austmine Mining Innovation Roadshow held in February 2025, provided a valuable platform for METS and mining organisations to share the latest advancements and innovations in mining technology. With a distinct focus on the Hunter Valley, a region renowned for its rich mining history and significant contribution to the industry, the event focused on the power of collaboration, with key discussions delving into how innovations are driving progress and optimising outcomes across the entire mining value chain, preparing the sector to navigate the future of resources together. With technological advancement and innovation reshaping every aspect of the mining value chain from exploration and extraction to processing, the forum facilitated valuable valuable discussions on topics including:

• Unlocking innovative solutions that can lead to sustainable and more efficient practices in mining,
• Cutting-edge technology and real-world innovation in action,
• Critical technologies driving transformation, such as automation, AI and data, and
• Potential barriers to long term success and how future workforce development and youth engagement can strengthen the future of the sector.

The event also included a series of dynamic technology presentations demonstrating the latest in cutting edge technology and innovation, and offered perspectives on how these can be adopted for long term success for the industry and it's workforce.

Hunter New Energy Symposium

In May, New.E (formerly NewH2), hosted it's third annual Hunter New Energy Symposium. A cornerstone event for the region, the event brought together representatives from industry, government, research and capital markets, to showcase the diverse range of New Energy opportunities in the Hunter region, including significant projects, investments and initiatives, as well as emerging policy and opportunities in the sector.

Day one of the symposium focused on the Hunter New Energy Outlook, with presentations on the positioning of the Hunter as an energy gateway and its pivotal place in the new energy transition, and included a deep dive into policy and investment levers as enablers to the regions transformation. The day concluded with a showcase of projects and partnerships including learnings from other regions.

Day two focused on the manufacturing capabilities and opportunities within the region, and a discussion on the enabling infrastructure required to successfully deliver the transition. The final sessions of the event examined the role of the various energy precincts and zones in the region, and how they can be leveraged for an optimised outcome.

Highlights of the event can be viewed here.

Innovations in Mining Roundtable - Muswellbrook

A targeted round table discussion and workshop was held between mining representatives and academics from the University of Newcastle, to explore challenges to sustainability in Mining. The Roundtable focused on:

• Storage, flow, processing, and transportation of product,

• Hazard and risk mitigation,

• Minimising energy and water use in mining, and

• Rehabilitation to repurpose land.

Academic speakers showcased their recent research and innovations within the METS sector, allowing for valuable insight into the possibilities and emerging opportunities for the Hunter region. The workshop was an opportunity for mining representatives to share their challenges and connect with leading researchers in this sector, to better understand the opportunities for collaboration between industry and academia, while the open discussion facilitated the exploration of future projects and highlighted the challenges being faced by the resources sector in the region in the near future.