Increased power transfer capacity through Static Var Compensator (SVC) control. Smart grids in power transmission will enable better use of existing infrastructure reducing the required investment for moving power between states. The project proposes the use of advanced measurement and control algorithms to make a step change in the operation of the national network with focus on the Queensland-New South Wales link.
Transforming Microgrid to Virtual Power Plant –ICT Frameworks,Tools,Control. The project aims to enhance large scale renewable penetrations to national power grid by advancing control, optimization, and ancillary services of Virtual Power Plants (VPPs), considering different disruptive events including recent South Australian blackout. This project expects to create new control, frame communication architecture, develop plug and play type IoT enabled grid interfacing inverter, and optimize resou ....Transforming Microgrid to Virtual Power Plant –ICT Frameworks,Tools,Control. The project aims to enhance large scale renewable penetrations to national power grid by advancing control, optimization, and ancillary services of Virtual Power Plants (VPPs), considering different disruptive events including recent South Australian blackout. This project expects to create new control, frame communication architecture, develop plug and play type IoT enabled grid interfacing inverter, and optimize resource management for distributed VPPs. The anticipated benefits from this institutional level collaborations are that VPPs help in enhancing national power grid operations during normal and disruptive conditions when more renewables are connected and also secure benefits of consumers, prosumers, and grid operators.Read moreRead less
Sustainable operation of transformers with better understanding of technical and economic constraints. Transformer failure can be devastating to consumers and network service providers, costing from thousands to millions of dollars in transformer replacement and lost productivity. To avoid such catastrophic failures, the goal of this project will be to develop new methods that can maximise transformer usage and minimise cost before failure occurs.
Managing Productive and Collaborative Relations in Australian Workplaces. Concerns over workplace productivity are high on the agenda of policymakers. Evidence suggests that collaboration in the workplace and high involvement approaches have a productivity premium of up to 20 per cent over those without the commitment to collaborative approaches. However, collective relations do not necessarily mean union relations nor necessarily collaborative relations. This research will benefit Australia's s ....Managing Productive and Collaborative Relations in Australian Workplaces. Concerns over workplace productivity are high on the agenda of policymakers. Evidence suggests that collaboration in the workplace and high involvement approaches have a productivity premium of up to 20 per cent over those without the commitment to collaborative approaches. However, collective relations do not necessarily mean union relations nor necessarily collaborative relations. This research will benefit Australia's social and economic fabric through understanding alternative means by which collaborative workplace relations lead to productivity gains. This is consistent with the current policy approach of government in promoting productive and harmonious workplace level industrial relations.Read moreRead less
Development of smart power transformers with intelligent monitoring, diagnostic and life management systems. Failure of a large transformer can cause a blackout to thousands of customers and this project aims to develop a smart diagnostics system for transformers. The developed system will provide a comprehensive tool for providing accurate decisions on operation and maintenance of transformers to safeguard the critical energy infrastructure of Australia.
Australia's Nuclear Choices. Australia's nuclear choices will be made in the context of a challenging and fluid international strategic environment characterised in Australia's immediate region by heightened global concerns regarding such transnational dilemmas as terrorism, energy security and nuclear proliferation. This project, through exploring the nature, evolution and consequences of contemporary strategic, military and civil nuclear developments impacting on the international non-prolifer ....Australia's Nuclear Choices. Australia's nuclear choices will be made in the context of a challenging and fluid international strategic environment characterised in Australia's immediate region by heightened global concerns regarding such transnational dilemmas as terrorism, energy security and nuclear proliferation. This project, through exploring the nature, evolution and consequences of contemporary strategic, military and civil nuclear developments impacting on the international non-proliferation regime will enable Australian policy-makers to better calibrate the costs and benefits of potential policy changes across these strategic, regime and market realms of Australia's nuclear interests.Read moreRead less
Harmonic, force and eddy current analysis of high voltage compact saturated core superconducting fault current limiters in electricity grids. This project is a clear example of applied research that utilises a frontier technology (superconductors) in an application with both national and community benefits. Superconducting fault current limiters are designed to protect and improve the availability of electricity grids in an energy efficient manner, since negligible impedance is applied to the ne ....Harmonic, force and eddy current analysis of high voltage compact saturated core superconducting fault current limiters in electricity grids. This project is a clear example of applied research that utilises a frontier technology (superconductors) in an application with both national and community benefits. Superconducting fault current limiters are designed to protect and improve the availability of electricity grids in an energy efficient manner, since negligible impedance is applied to the network during normal load conditions. Efficient improvements to the reliability of electricity networks are of national interest, with any failures affecting industry and individuals. The proposed research team, which includes Powerlink (an Australian electricity utility), is in a leading position to further develop this technology for the national grid and a potential world market.Read moreRead less
Membrane distillation development for concentrated solar thermal systems. Membrane distillation development for concentrated solar thermal systems. This project aims to develop a new membrane distillation module that works with a high efficiency solar thermal tower system. Fresh water and energy are inextricably linked and form the basis for all human activity. Remote locations in Australia and the Middle East and North Africa are blessed with abundant solar resources and increasing levels of de ....Membrane distillation development for concentrated solar thermal systems. Membrane distillation development for concentrated solar thermal systems. This project aims to develop a new membrane distillation module that works with a high efficiency solar thermal tower system. Fresh water and energy are inextricably linked and form the basis for all human activity. Remote locations in Australia and the Middle East and North Africa are blessed with abundant solar resources and increasing levels of development, but burdened by access to reliable water treatment and electricity generation facilities. This project will use recently developed materials and design tools to overcome technical challenges that limited membrane distillation technology. This is expected to open up an innovative method for co-production of water and electricity which can handle transient solar and water quality inputs.Read moreRead less
Employee voice in Australia: the impact of employee participation arrangements on organisational performance and employee well-being. Given the extent of union decline in Australia, there is a need to update policy to reflect the new reality of low unionisation. This project will examine what alternative arrangements exist and their economic and social consequences. It focuses on the employee impacts and employer impacts of these arrangements and will inform current policy debates.
Greater inclusion of people with disability in Australian workplaces. This project aims to develop a model of successful employment for people with a disability, identify sources of employer diversity that explain willingness to hire, and develop social marketing messages that improve employer attitudes and achieve greater inclusion in Australian workplaces. Workforce participation of people with a disability remains low. The outcome of this study will be more people with a disability and their ....Greater inclusion of people with disability in Australian workplaces. This project aims to develop a model of successful employment for people with a disability, identify sources of employer diversity that explain willingness to hire, and develop social marketing messages that improve employer attitudes and achieve greater inclusion in Australian workplaces. Workforce participation of people with a disability remains low. The outcome of this study will be more people with a disability and their carers gaining meaningful employment, with benefits including improved physical and mental health, social connections and economic security. It will benefit employers by creating more diverse workplaces and a broader talent pool, resulting in greater innovation and productivity.Read moreRead less