Institute research
The component parts of ISST - research strengths in energy, transport and land-use, water management, agriculture and environmental modelling - came together naturally and have already achieved a great deal individually and collaboratively.
Our vision it to be a leader in harnessing systems and technologies to balance the demands of human development with the needs of the natural environment.
Research grants
2009
- A roadmap for greening existing Australian housing
- Strategic integration of renewable energy systems into the electricity grid
2008
- An integrated model for the assessment of urban sustainability
- Unlocking the grid: the future of the electricity distribution network
- The potential role of transit-oriented development in Australian cities: a critical assessment using a suburban rail corridor
- A new look at modelling population heterogeneity in econometric study
- WaterLog - a mathematical model to implement recommendations of The Wentworth (in partnership with The University of Adelaide)
- Linear programming approach to nonlinear deterministic and stochastic control problems: perturbations methods and numerical analysis (International linkages with France, Germany, India and USA)
Research support centres
Listed below are developments in the sustainability area with the establishment of support centres within the Institute framework.
Intelligent Grid Cluster
The ISST carries out research, development, prototyping, testing, monitoring and educational projects in both the renewable energy and energy efficient areas, and has strong links with key sustainable energy industry organisations. The Intelligent Grid Cluster has been formed with a key focus on collaboration with key researchers within Australia to improve the energy grid. A key focus of the Adelaide project will be on evaluating and monitoring energy use in a state-of-the-art sustainable housing development.
Regional Sustainability Centre, Whyalla
This centre will be the regional node of the Institute for Sustainable Systems and Technologies and will be based at UniSAs Whyalla campus and work collaboratively with the Centre for Regional Engagement and the Centre for Rural Health and Community Development. The Centre will utilise UniSAs expertise in sustainable systems and technologies and other relevant capabilities to develop and demonstrate systems and technologies appropriate for the region and its specific resource development operations.
The first project will be to build a demonstration solar power plant in Whyalla that can deliver base load electricity through the integration of unique thermochemical solar energy storage technology. Investment in this project is provided from the Department of Environment and Water Resources under their Advanced Electricity Storage Technology Program. In addition to providing local assistance during the design/implementation stages, the Centre will be responsible for the evaluation and monitoring process of the solar installation and will provide an opportunity for collaboration between UniSA and researchers from the Australian National University who developed the solar dish technology being demonstrated in the project.
The second project will be the provision of deionised water where the use of solar energy combined with waste heat will be investigated as a means for providing a thermal solution for producing deionised water requirements. After initial studies and technical/economic evaluation, a system will be designed and optimised and a pilot plant built for assessing its practical performance. It is anticipated that the project will build badly needed local expertise in water desalination using alternative energy resources and should lead to the Centre providing national research leadership in this area.
These, and other proposed projects, will establish a research, development and demonstration base for providing integrated sustainable solutions to support the regional community of the Upper Spencer Gulf.
Sustainable Energy Industry Support Centre
Through working with industry partners a need has been identified for an enhanced industry support centre capable of building on current activities and levels of support with a particular emphasis in solar thermal techniques. The SEISC has been formed with a key focus on supporting solar hot water applications in Australia through testing and product development, supporting local manufacturers and importers of solar systems, and monitoring services and computer modelling support to government departments involved in the promotion, growth and regulation of solar thermal applications. The Centre will actively develop new innovations with industry, including current developments to commercialise solar heating and solar cooling systems.
Please download our brochure on solar hot water system development and testing (pdf 266.17 kb)