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Alternative energy has been on the government, corporate, academic and public agenda for quite some time but it took Apache Energy's Varanas Island gas explosion to make it an obvious priority, argues Tim Shanahan, Director, UWA Energy and Minerals Initiative.

The current energy situation clearly shows that investing in research to develop energy assets is a competitive necessity for Western Australia in order to underpin the security of our supply.

We have plenty of energy in our State but we need to understand how to access it and use it in the best possible way to both meet our future energy requirements and to remain a player in the global energy market.

Worthy of mention is that our State is significantly different from the rest of Australia as our energy mix features 60 per cent gas and 40 per cent coal and renewable energy - unlike our neighbouring States which use greater coal supplies.

In light of our heavy reliance on gas, we must take heed of the urgent call for contingency planning to protect our energy supply.

To broaden and diversify our gas in the energy mix is an imperative. Collaboration between the big corporates and academic institutions and research organisations is the clear way forward.

Firstly, we need to continue exploring and find more gas. This seems an obvious response, but one which must be stated.  We need to do more than just rely on a 16,000km long skinny pipeline - even if 80 per cent of the line is being duplicated.

Secondly, we need better technology and new approaches for accessing the existing sources we have.  Tight gas is one example of previously dismissed energy reserves which is now being closely examined and put back on the table.

Part of this second approach is also to invest in alternative energy technology such as photovoltaic (solar), wave energy and geothermal energy.

Thirdly, in our efforts to broaden and diversify our energy mix, we need to convert to more flexible fuels.  Converting gas to liquid is a relatively new area of research but certainly one which holds an integral piece to the puzzle of future energy sources.

While gas to liquid apparently has the same carbon emissions as diesel, it does offer more energy security.

These three areas are firmly on the agenda at the Western Australian Energy Research Alliance (WA:ERA) - a partnership between CSIRO , The University of Western Australia and Curtin University of Technology .  WA:ERA is well supported by Government (State and Federal), and some of the big energy corporate players (Chevron and Woodside).

WA:ERA is positioning itself to ensure Western Australia becomes internationally regarded as a leading hub for oil, gas and energy research.

WA:ERA is testimony to the fact that only through spending and focussing on research and through collaboration of the highest standard will we be able to find and then implement the necessary solutions to secure our energy supply, and so secure the future of Western Australia.

• Tim Shanahan , Director, UWA Energy and Minerals Initiative