A HYBRID INTEGRATED SYSTEM FOR MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE TREATMENT AND POWER GENERATION. The management of solid wastes is a major global environmental issue and the current practice of landfilling is not a sustainable solution. Biogasification of the organic fraction provides not only a means of waste treatment but also generates a source of energy in the form methane but current technologies are expensive due to the long degradation times. In this project we investigate an innovative waste tr ....A HYBRID INTEGRATED SYSTEM FOR MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE TREATMENT AND POWER GENERATION. The management of solid wastes is a major global environmental issue and the current practice of landfilling is not a sustainable solution. Biogasification of the organic fraction provides not only a means of waste treatment but also generates a source of energy in the form methane but current technologies are expensive due to the long degradation times. In this project we investigate an innovative waste treatment system that will cut down the time required for processing wastes by a factor of 10 with considerable economic benefit. We will optimise the integration of this treatment system with a hybrid power generation system that utilises other renewable energy sources like solar and wind energy to deliver quality power at minimal cost.Read moreRead less
Production of hydrogen from biomass by integrated catalytic aqueous hydrolysis and reforming in subcritical water. The outcomes of this project will lead to the development of a novel process for efficient and cost-effective hydrogen production from renewable biomass using integrated hydrolysis and catalytic aqueous reforming at low temperatures. Such technological innovation will provide significant benefits to Australia as a whole for transition to a truly sustainable hydrogen economy. The nov ....Production of hydrogen from biomass by integrated catalytic aqueous hydrolysis and reforming in subcritical water. The outcomes of this project will lead to the development of a novel process for efficient and cost-effective hydrogen production from renewable biomass using integrated hydrolysis and catalytic aqueous reforming at low temperatures. Such technological innovation will provide significant benefits to Australia as a whole for transition to a truly sustainable hydrogen economy. The novel reaction system and research methodologies proposed in this proposal will certainly enhance Australia's science and technology capability and international competitiveness, in the area of reaction engineering. Also of the national benefit is the successful training of a postgraduate at PhD level who will no doubt add to future scientific research workforce.Read moreRead less
Integrated photo and thermal catalysis for economic carbon dioxide conversion to fuels. The project aims to develop an integrated process for simultaneously photo- and thermal-catalytic conversion of carbon dioxide and water vapour to hydrocarbon fuels and chemicals using solar light and waste heat from flue gas. This project will design and make multi-functional catalysts based on zirconium metal organic frameworks, incorporating quantum dots and metal nanoclusters. This project is expected to ....Integrated photo and thermal catalysis for economic carbon dioxide conversion to fuels. The project aims to develop an integrated process for simultaneously photo- and thermal-catalytic conversion of carbon dioxide and water vapour to hydrocarbon fuels and chemicals using solar light and waste heat from flue gas. This project will design and make multi-functional catalysts based on zirconium metal organic frameworks, incorporating quantum dots and metal nanoclusters. This project is expected to develop an advanced materials system, reduce carbon dioxide and use it to produce fuel, and harness solar energy. The project should advance Australia’s leading role in reducing carbon emission, and producing clean energy and nanotechnology.Read moreRead less
Synthetic storage for improving flexibility and security of micro-grids. This project aims to remove the need for energy storage in micro-grids via adoption of synthetic storage. Micro-grids encounter high renewable energy penetrations early, given their small size. Typically, micro-grid variability is managed with technologies such as energy storage. Synthetic storage involves replacing fixed speed diesel assets with variable speed diesel technology. This project offers a cost-effective way to ....Synthetic storage for improving flexibility and security of micro-grids. This project aims to remove the need for energy storage in micro-grids via adoption of synthetic storage. Micro-grids encounter high renewable energy penetrations early, given their small size. Typically, micro-grid variability is managed with technologies such as energy storage. Synthetic storage involves replacing fixed speed diesel assets with variable speed diesel technology. This project offers a cost-effective way to improve renewable penetration and reduce diesel fuel consumption in micro-grids by removing the need for expensive energy storage. The expected project outcomes include reductions in cost and complexity for high renewable energy penetration micro-grids, reduced emissions and improved micro-grid reliability.Read moreRead less
Addressing Challenges for the Future Grids – Harmonics Standardization. The main aim of this project is to deliver appropriate frequency standardisation to protect electricity grids and support the use of renewable energy sources. Globally, there is no harmonic standardisation within the frequency range of 2–150 kHz, which can significantly affect the reliability of electricity networks and smart grids. Electricity networks are increasingly using renewable energy sources and an efficient loads a ....Addressing Challenges for the Future Grids – Harmonics Standardization. The main aim of this project is to deliver appropriate frequency standardisation to protect electricity grids and support the use of renewable energy sources. Globally, there is no harmonic standardisation within the frequency range of 2–150 kHz, which can significantly affect the reliability of electricity networks and smart grids. Electricity networks are increasingly using renewable energy sources and an efficient loads approach based on power electronics technology. However, this can affect grid reliability and robustness. The project aims to develop advanced tools to better understand the power quality issues of Australian residential, commercial and industrial distribution networks. It also aims to develop novel techniques to improve power quality and reliability of the grids, and to develop harmonics emission and immunity levels to modify the Australian standards accordingly.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0989487
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$350,000.00
Summary
The National Hydrogen Materials Reference Facility. Hydrogen energy technology is a vital element in the global response to climate change owing to increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide levels from burning fossil fuels. Hydrogen is a universal energy carrier that facilitates the transformation of energy from renewable and other sources for applications in industry, transport and homes. The National Hydrogen Materials Reference Facility is a multidisciplinary, state-of-the-art experimental facili ....The National Hydrogen Materials Reference Facility. Hydrogen energy technology is a vital element in the global response to climate change owing to increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide levels from burning fossil fuels. Hydrogen is a universal energy carrier that facilitates the transformation of energy from renewable and other sources for applications in industry, transport and homes. The National Hydrogen Materials Reference Facility is a multidisciplinary, state-of-the-art experimental facility for materials science supporting excellent research into advanced materials for hydrogen generation from fossil fuels and by solar means, hydrogen storage for automotive and stationary applications, hydrogen distribution and hydrogen end use, particularly in fuel cells that generate electricity.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE120100069
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$200,000.00
Summary
A complete thermo-electric characterisation facility for exploration of novel materials and devices at high temperatures. This high temperature materials’ characterisation facility will be the most advanced measurement setup of its kind in Australia. The unique features of the equipment and its high versatility will substantially enhance national research capabilities in functional materials, metal engineering, manufacturing engineering, chemistry, and physics.
Multiscale Integrated Modelling and Control of an Ethanol-Fuelled Tubular Solid Oxide Fuel Cell. The results from this project will allow use of alternative sources for energy through a better understanding of the functioning, design, operability and control of SOFCs. Fuel Cells (FCs) with biomass ethanol feed will not only act as reliable power source but also reduce greenhouse gas emissions. A successful R&D effort to develop FCs will improve the national energy security by reducing the growin ....Multiscale Integrated Modelling and Control of an Ethanol-Fuelled Tubular Solid Oxide Fuel Cell. The results from this project will allow use of alternative sources for energy through a better understanding of the functioning, design, operability and control of SOFCs. Fuel Cells (FCs) with biomass ethanol feed will not only act as reliable power source but also reduce greenhouse gas emissions. A successful R&D effort to develop FCs will improve the national energy security by reducing the growing dependency on foreign energy sources, improve the environment by reducing carbon and other harmful emissions, and improve the economic growth by expanding the portfolio of highly efficient energy and useful spill over technologies. Read moreRead less
Three-dimensional solar-energy-driven hydrogen generation from ammonia. This project aims to address the challenges of hydrogen generation, transportation and storage by conceptualising a novel three-dimensional, solar-driven system for ammonia splitting on ultralight catalyst materials. The project expects to generate new knowledge in the area of advanced materials enabled hydrogen technologies through interdisciplinary approaches involving materials science, novel catalysis, and nanotechnology ....Three-dimensional solar-energy-driven hydrogen generation from ammonia. This project aims to address the challenges of hydrogen generation, transportation and storage by conceptualising a novel three-dimensional, solar-driven system for ammonia splitting on ultralight catalyst materials. The project expects to generate new knowledge in the area of advanced materials enabled hydrogen technologies through interdisciplinary approaches involving materials science, novel catalysis, and nanotechnology. Expected outcomes include new catalyst materials, design strategies, and advanced ammonia splitting technologies. This should provide significant benefits, such as newly created knowledge, technological innovation, research training, contributing to hydrogen economy and net zero for a greener environment.Read moreRead less
Inorganic/organic Hybrids for flexible thermoelectric generators. Flexible thermoelectric generators can directly harvest electricity from body heat, offering a new technology for wearable electronics, but their unsatisfied performance limits their applications. This project aims to design high-efficient and mechanically robust flexible thermoelectric devices based on novel hybrids with quantum dots and conducting polymers as key components. The key breakthrough is to establish unique devices wi ....Inorganic/organic Hybrids for flexible thermoelectric generators. Flexible thermoelectric generators can directly harvest electricity from body heat, offering a new technology for wearable electronics, but their unsatisfied performance limits their applications. This project aims to design high-efficient and mechanically robust flexible thermoelectric devices based on novel hybrids with quantum dots and conducting polymers as key components. The key breakthrough is to establish unique devices with record-high thermoelectric efficiency and to illustrate the underlying mechanisms for searching new-type flexible thermoelectrics. The expected outcomes will lead to innovative technology for energy conversion and advanced manufacturing and place Australia at the forefront of energy and manufacturing fields.Read moreRead less