The Superpower Institute: Grantee Spotlight (Q3 2026)

The Giving Green Fund is awarding a restricted grant to The Superpower Institute (TSI) for its work building Australia's green iron and steel industry and facilitating green iron exports to trade partners. TSI is an economic and policy research institute based in Australia.

TSI's work falls within our philanthropic strategy of decarbonizing iron and steel. Please see Giving Green's strategy report for more information, including potential risks and co-benefits, recommended sub-strategies, theory of change, funding need, and key uncertainties.

Last updated: October 2026

What Is The Superpower Institute?

Founded in 2023, TSI aims to (1) grow Australia's production of energy-intensive green commodities—such as iron, aluminum, and low-carbon fuels—and (2) establish Australia as a leading global exporter of these commodities, helping to displace higher-emissions alternatives. Its approach combines economic modeling and policy research with engagement across government and industry, both domestically and with key trading partners across Asia and Europe.

What Are We Funding, and How Could It Help Address Climate Change?

Because of its abundant iron ore and renewable energy resources, Australia is one of the best-placed geographies in the world to decarbonize the 1.6 GtCO2e of annual emissions from ironmaking. Scaling Australia’s green iron production, including exporting it to economies that lack the resources to produce it competitively themselves, could substantially reduce emissions from global steel production.

Domestically, TSI's A Green Iron Plan for Australia modeled green iron production in five Australian regions and set out the policies needed to close the cost gap between green and coal-based iron. Since then, TSI has been advocating for national policies to support green ironmaking, such as innovation funding and carbon pricing.

The Institute’s international program seeks to strengthen Australia’s green iron trade with Asian and European steelmakers. It plans to develop practical economic and policy analyses to inform and support policy with trading nations. The Institute also runs a diplomatic program, working together with international industries and governments to turn ideas into practical action. The objectives of this program include: 

• Advancing specific trade relationships between Australia and countries in Asia and Europe.
• Facilitating cross-border offtake and investment flows that support early-mover plants.
• Promoting interoperable standards and certifications.
• Exploring the potential for multilateral policy and trade frameworks.

Why Do We Think The Superpower Institute Will Use This Funding Well?

TSI has quickly become a credible voice on green iron in Australian policy. The Institute is an influential and credible organization, with strong bipartisan political relationships. TSI provides regular analysis to the Australian Commonwealth Government and state governments. For example, it provided extensive engagement with the Treasury leading up to the national Future Made in Australia Innovation Fund—including $750 million AUD (around $350 million USD) for green metals—and its Green Iron Plan was launched by an Assistant Minister of the Australian Treasury. In commissioned research for an Australian donor in 2024, Giving Green identified TSI as one of Australia's most impactful climate nonprofits. 

The Institute’s trade work is newer, but shows promising signs of success. TSI has held in-country dialogues in Korea, Indonesia and Singapore, with scheduled dialogues in China, Japan and India. Through these dialogues and targeted engagement, TSI is well connected across the region and the global steelmaking sector. In 2025, TSI also partnered with the World Economic Forum's First Movers Coalition to identify opportunities that could supply the coalition with green industrial products.

We publish grant spotlights to offer transparency to Giving Green Fund donors and resources for those interested in the impact strategies each grant supports. Giving Green believes our Top Climate Nonprofits have the greatest impact potential for large, unrestricted gifts. For several reasons, we also disburse and recommend grants to other organizations surfaced through our research process for work that we believe is at least as impactful as grants to our top recommendations.

This is a non-partisan analysis (study or research) and is provided for educational purposes.

The Superpower Institute is a registered nonprofit in Australia.