Hugh Saddler

Dr Hugh Saddler had a degree in science from the University of Adelaide and a PhD from Cambridge University. He was the author of a book on Australian energy policy, Energy in Australia and over 50 scientific papers, monographs and articles on energy technology and environmental policy, and was recognised as one of Australia's leading experts in this field.^[1]

Hugh Saddler was a member of the Experts Group on Emissions Trading, appointed by the Australian Greenhouse Office, of the ABS Environmental Statistics Advisory Group, and of the ACT Environment Advisory Committee. In 1998 he was appointed an adjunct professor at Murdoch University. He was a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Energy and a member of the International Association for Energy Economics.^[1]

Hugh Saddler founded the company Energy Strategies in 1982 and was its Managing Director.

His obituary in the Guardian ( Australia) read:

Big changes in society need capable people who make it their mission to improve things. Australia’s energy transition has lost a titan. Hugh Saddler was deeply influential on generations of Australian energy researchers, industry experts and policymakers. His impact came not so much from the public limelight, but from a dedication to the best possible analysis, from relentless pursuit of understanding how the energy system works and how it can be improved, and from great generosity in sharing his insights. His work helped lay foundations for Australia’s transition to a low emissions energy system, one of the defining challenges of this decade and beyond.

Hugh grew up while his father Bruce, an engineer, contributed to the development of the South Australian electricity system. A graduate of Adelaide University, he gained a prize-winning PhD in biology at Cambridge University. With a rising interest in politics, society and the environment, he worked in London on transport and industrial development policy. He came to Australia in 1974 to work as a Research Fellow at the University of Sydney, and then to worked on the Ranger Uranium Environmental Inquiry, before moving to the Australian National University. He partnered in and often managed a series of energy and policy consulting firms from the early 1980s until this year.

Hugh also held numerous honorary academic positions, including as Adjunct Professor at the ANU Crawford School. Hugh was a founding director of the Australia Institute, serving on the board from 1994 to 2014 and on the Research Committee from 2001 to 2023. He was also on the Grattan Institute’s Energy Reference Group from 2011.

In 1983 he played an important role in the campaign to save the Franklin River, his report for the Tasmanian Wilderness Society debunking the myths that building hydroelectric dams were the answer. He did his first work on climate change policy in 1988. He led a business that provided energy efficiency advisory services to residential and business clients in Canberra. This work included specialist services for low-income households in financial hardship. One of Hugh’s profound legacies is the reverse auction system he helped design for electricity purchases, which provides clean electricity to the ACT at predetermined prices.

In 2006 Hugh developed a methodology for tracking Australia’s energy emissions with a lag of only a few weeks. This work evolved into a regular update on energy emissions, published first by pitt&sherry, then the Australia Institute, and most recently by ANU as the Australian Energy Emissions Monitor. Hugh’s research contributed to the Australian Energy Market Operator’s Integrated System Plan, a global benchmark planning tool for energy system transitions to 100% renewables.

He was the author of a book on Australian energy policy and of numerous book chapters, scientific papers, monographs and articles on energy, technology and environmental policy. He was a frequent commentator on electricity market and climate policy affairs in the national media and online publications.

Hugh will be remembered not only for his public-spirited research, his successful outreach and his influential advice to governments, but for his generosity in sharing knowledge and insight. He was a dear friend and colleague to many, and a mentor and teacher of many young minds.

Hugh was married to Marilyn Chalkley for almost 50 years. They have two sons, Owen and Harry. He died in Canberra on 29 June 2023, following a long illness.