Thermal Optimisation of Gigascale Solar Photovoltaics. Large-scale solar photovoltaics are critical to decarbonising the global economy. Sun Cable is developing the world’s largest solar farm in the Northern Territory, and is considering deploying the 5B MAV solar array. At this scale, temperature-induced panel efficiency losses represent a major challenge that must be overcome through thermal performance optimisation. We will build sophisticated multiscale models to simulate and understand the ....Thermal Optimisation of Gigascale Solar Photovoltaics. Large-scale solar photovoltaics are critical to decarbonising the global economy. Sun Cable is developing the world’s largest solar farm in the Northern Territory, and is considering deploying the 5B MAV solar array. At this scale, temperature-induced panel efficiency losses represent a major challenge that must be overcome through thermal performance optimisation. We will build sophisticated multiscale models to simulate and understand the multiple interacting phenomena that cause panel heating, for the first time. This project will create the tools and know-how to optimise array design and solar farm development, delivering major efficiency gains and enhancing the viability of future gigascale solar projects.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE230101396
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$360,218.00
Summary
Designing Single-atom catalysts for Renewable Waste Conversion to Urea. This DECRA aims to realise the direct electrochemical conversion of waste resources using renewable energy to generate urea at ambient conditions. By designing impurity-tolerant single atom catalysts and unearthing their structure-activity relationships, the utilisation of flue gas and wastewater will be materialised. This will advance our understanding in the field as current energy conversion reactions require pure feedsto ....Designing Single-atom catalysts for Renewable Waste Conversion to Urea. This DECRA aims to realise the direct electrochemical conversion of waste resources using renewable energy to generate urea at ambient conditions. By designing impurity-tolerant single atom catalysts and unearthing their structure-activity relationships, the utilisation of flue gas and wastewater will be materialised. This will advance our understanding in the field as current energy conversion reactions require pure feedstocks. Expected outcomes from the program is envisioned to lead to deployment of scalable decentralised modes of green urea production (substituting imports), and the knowledge transferrable to other areas of Australia’s emerging hydrogen economy, extending the scope of renewable Power-to-X to realise a circular economy.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE230100046
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$439,454.00
Summary
Reliable Integration of Distributed Low-Carbon Energy Resources. This project aims to generate new knowledge that will facilitate the integration of low-carbon distributed energy resources into electricity grids. This project expects to advance the theory, algorithms, and methods in the area of smart grids using innovative approaches of optimisation and data analytics. Expected outcomes of this project include novel algorithms and tools to enable the reliable integration of low-carbon distribute ....Reliable Integration of Distributed Low-Carbon Energy Resources. This project aims to generate new knowledge that will facilitate the integration of low-carbon distributed energy resources into electricity grids. This project expects to advance the theory, algorithms, and methods in the area of smart grids using innovative approaches of optimisation and data analytics. Expected outcomes of this project include novel algorithms and tools to enable the reliable integration of low-carbon distributed energy resources and unlock their value in electricity grids. This should provide significant benefits, such as affordable electricity for Australian consumers, improvements in the reliability of grids in Australia, and increased and more effective use of sustainable energy for emission reduction.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE230101391
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$426,118.00
Summary
Intelligent Physical Layer Security Protocols for Backscattering in IoT. This project aims to develop novel theories, system models, and energy-efficient optimisation algorithms to fight against eavesdropping and jamming attacks in backscatter communication networks. This project expects to advance knowledge in cybersecurity and sustainable communications by utilising passive tags for several confidential applications like human tracking and financial distributed systems. Expected outcomes inclu ....Intelligent Physical Layer Security Protocols for Backscattering in IoT. This project aims to develop novel theories, system models, and energy-efficient optimisation algorithms to fight against eavesdropping and jamming attacks in backscatter communication networks. This project expects to advance knowledge in cybersecurity and sustainable communications by utilising passive tags for several confidential applications like human tracking and financial distributed systems. Expected outcomes include vital technologies required in practically realising the ubiquitous deployment of low-cost sustainable wireless devices in Internet-of-Things. This should significantly benefit the Australian industry, society and economy regarding reduced energy costs, enhanced spectrum efficiency, and improved communication security.Read moreRead less
Modelling, Design and Development of a Novel Wave-Energy Converter. Australia has an abundant source of wave-energy commercially untapped due to technical limitations of current wave-energy devices. This project aims to develop a novel wave-energy converter (WEC) that integrates energy capture and electricity generation through a single mechanism. This novel WEC can overcome or significantly reduce the drawbacks of existing WECs, is compact and light-weight (about 30 times less), ensures surviva ....Modelling, Design and Development of a Novel Wave-Energy Converter. Australia has an abundant source of wave-energy commercially untapped due to technical limitations of current wave-energy devices. This project aims to develop a novel wave-energy converter (WEC) that integrates energy capture and electricity generation through a single mechanism. This novel WEC can overcome or significantly reduce the drawbacks of existing WECs, is compact and light-weight (about 30 times less), ensures survivability, and has low-cost installation and maintenance. The project expects to deliver novel theoretical results in fluid-structure interaction, control systems and electrical conversion for WECs and other applications. The WEC will be demonstrated via a tested proof-of-concept physical model.Read moreRead less
Towards highly-efficient hydrogen gas turbines. The increasing interest in green hydrogen has led to a need for research and development in combustion systems that can accommodate hydrogen. One promising technology is low-emission gas turbines, which is a key player in the electricity market. However, hydrogen gas turbines are susceptible to a phenomenon called thermoacoustic instability, causing loud noise and can damage equipment. This project represents the first comprehensive study of the ef ....Towards highly-efficient hydrogen gas turbines. The increasing interest in green hydrogen has led to a need for research and development in combustion systems that can accommodate hydrogen. One promising technology is low-emission gas turbines, which is a key player in the electricity market. However, hydrogen gas turbines are susceptible to a phenomenon called thermoacoustic instability, causing loud noise and can damage equipment. This project represents the first comprehensive study of the effects of hydrogen fuel on thermoacoustic instability under conditions relevant to gas turbines. By examining low-order models, commonly used for designing gas turbines, this project can significantly advance the field and facilitate the adoption of green hydrogen as a fuel source.Read moreRead less
2D vertical heterostructures for multi-functional energy applications. This project aims to develop multi-functional 2D vertical heterostructures for sustainable energy applications. A key challenge in fabricating 2D vertical heterostructures is the re-stacking of layered materials. This project will utilize edge-rich vertical graphene to unleash the full potential of 2D vertical heterostructures by combining the advantages of individual building blocks while mitigating the associated shortcomin ....2D vertical heterostructures for multi-functional energy applications. This project aims to develop multi-functional 2D vertical heterostructures for sustainable energy applications. A key challenge in fabricating 2D vertical heterostructures is the re-stacking of layered materials. This project will utilize edge-rich vertical graphene to unleash the full potential of 2D vertical heterostructures by combining the advantages of individual building blocks while mitigating the associated shortcomings. Expected outcomes will include improved electrochemical performance of materials and an integrated energy system utilizing these multi-functional materials to produce green hydrogen at low cost and high efficiency. The project should contribute largely to Australia’s transition to robust and affordable clean energy.Read moreRead less
Impact of roughness on adverse pressure gradient turbulent boundary layers. This project aims to develop a novel technique for measuring time-resolved fluid velocity vector fields in high-speed flows to investigate rough wall turbulence in adverse pressure gradient environments in unprecedented detail. By using this innovative instrument to study these widespread but poorly understood turbulent flows in power generation and transport, the project seeks to generate new knowledge. Expected outcome ....Impact of roughness on adverse pressure gradient turbulent boundary layers. This project aims to develop a novel technique for measuring time-resolved fluid velocity vector fields in high-speed flows to investigate rough wall turbulence in adverse pressure gradient environments in unprecedented detail. By using this innovative instrument to study these widespread but poorly understood turbulent flows in power generation and transport, the project seeks to generate new knowledge. Expected outcomes include the development of a new instrument and fundamental knowledge leading to improved designs with higher efficiencies in power generation and transport, resulting in significant benefits such as increased energy security, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and improved quality of life for individuals and society.Read moreRead less
2D oxide supported single-atom catalysts for sustainable fuel generation. This project aims to develop two-dimensional oxide supported single-atom catalysts for sustainable fuel generation from water and CO2 using combined theoretical and experimental investigations. The outcomes of this project will offer atomic and electronic level principles in designing high-performance catalysts and provide novel approaches on green fuel generations for emerging energy technologies. The success of this proj ....2D oxide supported single-atom catalysts for sustainable fuel generation. This project aims to develop two-dimensional oxide supported single-atom catalysts for sustainable fuel generation from water and CO2 using combined theoretical and experimental investigations. The outcomes of this project will offer atomic and electronic level principles in designing high-performance catalysts and provide novel approaches on green fuel generations for emerging energy technologies. The success of this project will meet the knowledge gap between advanced materials and practical sustainable energy technologies, and contribute to the development of sustainable society of Australia and international community by supplying low-cost and green fuels.Read moreRead less
Nitride materials: In the “bond ionicity Goldilocks zone” for solar energy. Progress towards commercial devices for solar-driven hydrogen generation as well as in-situ electricity generation for vehicles is currently hampered by a lack of earth-abundant, stable, non-toxic semiconductor materials that can be fabricated by scalable methods. This project aims to develop the first scalable solution synthesis methods for a new class of earth-abundant Zn-based nitride semiconductor nanocrystals that h ....Nitride materials: In the “bond ionicity Goldilocks zone” for solar energy. Progress towards commercial devices for solar-driven hydrogen generation as well as in-situ electricity generation for vehicles is currently hampered by a lack of earth-abundant, stable, non-toxic semiconductor materials that can be fabricated by scalable methods. This project aims to develop the first scalable solution synthesis methods for a new class of earth-abundant Zn-based nitride semiconductor nanocrystals that have favourable bond ionicity and establish their optoelectronic properties for renewable energy devices for the first time. Flexible solution processing methods will be exploited to tune surface composition, remove defects and create devices to achieve optimised performance in these challenging new nitride material systems.Read moreRead less