Research projects
The Sustainable Energy Centre is
a multidisciplinary research concentration established with an emphasis on collaborative
research with industry. SEC's main research and development programs
are in the areas of energy demand side management, and renewable energy
applications. The SEC
has developed products for commercialisation including a
roof-integrated solar heating system, a new generation of solar lights, and
phase change storage systems for heating and cooling applications.
Recognised internationally, SEC researchers focus into the following major areas:
Below is a list of current and previous research projects.
Energy Use in Housing and Buildings
Improving the energy efficiency of buildings can substantially reduce Australia's greenhouse gas emissions. Efficiency improvements can also reduce the peak power demands on the electricity grid, which is a significant burden on Australia’s electrical infrastructure. Households currently account for approximately 11% of Australia's total energy use (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2008 Yearly Report). An important factor impacting on household energy use is home design and insulation. SEC researchers are currently involved in a comprehensive array of projects that focus on identifying and reducing the greenhouse gas emission of dwellings.
- Expanded star rating system for houses
- Energy use in housing (Word 338Kb)
- Evaluation, monitoring and reduction of energy and emissions in housing
- Evaluation of energy use and greenhouse emission in housing developments
- Advancing roofing insulation systems
Thermal Energy Storage
SEC is a leading research group on phase change materials (PCMs) in Australia. Our researchers are internationally recognised for their work with PCMs on heating and cooling applications. The SEC has established strong links with leading researchers nationally and overseas. Our research has involved using phase change materials for the following applications:
- Space heating systems
- Space cooling systems
- Hot water systems
- Refrigeration
- Cooling of photovoltaic solar cells
- Thermal management of electronics using PCMs and heat pipes
These projects involve companies located locally, nationally and
internationally.
A review paper written for the Australian Institute of Refrigeration,
Air Conditioning and Heating can be found at
http://www.airah.org.au/downloads/2005-03-02.pdf
A paper for the PCM cooling system in the CH2 building can be found at
http://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/rsrc/PDFs/CH2/CH2SupplementaryPaper.pdf
Alternative fuels and vehicles
- Putting Numbers on the Vehicle Emission Dilemma
- Trev (Two seater renewable energy vehicle)
- Solar Car Consortium
- Solar and electric car technology
- Retrofitting an electric drive to an ordinary vehicle to make it into a hybrid vehicle
- Energy efficient motors and drives
- Alternative fuels and biofuels applications
Wind and Water Energy
- Developing turbines for generating power from tidal and river flows
- Wave power
- Development of a renewable energy powered seawater desalination plant
Previous research projects
- Photovoltaic systems
- Computer modelling of thermofluid systems (Postgraduate Project)
- Numerical Simulation of solar cells and modules
- Playford Primary School
- Grote Street precinct
- New generation solar lights (Word 124Kb)