News Article
Universities Power Up With Solar Grant
The University of New South Wales has secured an historic grant with the University of Queensland to lead two major photovoltaic (PV) research projects. Under the Australian Government's Solar Flagships program, industry partners AGL Energy Limited and First Solar will construct and operate two solar power plants in western NSW over the next three years.
Using the power stations and their combined capacity of 159 megawatts as a backdrop, the universities have secured $40.7 million from the Education Investment Fund Research Infrastructure Program to establish corresponding research projects. Part of the EIF funding will be used to build a Power Systems Interface Research Facility to investigate significant areas related to the successful integration of solar PV stations into Australia's electricity grid.
"This grant is the most significant and historically largest single investment to build a piece of power system interface research infrastructure in Australia," said Professor Vassilios Agelidis, Director of the Australian Energy Research Institute at UNSW. "It will deliver research skills and innovation towards our energy future."
UNSW's Professor Les Field, Vice-President and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) said the new research facility would be housed in the recently completed Tyree Energy Technologies Building.
"The building, and the new power systems facility, position UNSW as a national energy research hub capable of delivering much-needed energy technologies and solutions," said Professor Field.
UQ's Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Max Lu, said it was significant that UQ was forming a strategic partnership with UNSW, which has been an international leader in photovoltaic research for almost 30 years.
"UQ is making a strategic push into energy research "” across the board "” and renewables are a significant component of that work, which is taking place across the University and its institutes.
"We are also delighted to be working with AGL, First Solar and the NSW and federal governments on this landmark, large-scale project," Professor Lu said.
Announcing the Solar Flagships funding, the federal Minister for Resources and Energy, Martin Ferguson, said the AGL-First Solar project was excellent value for money and gave Australia the opportunity to bring industrial-scale solar power to market.
"We have seen the cost of solar PV come down dramatically and this has allowed the Australian Government to capture this benefit and spread taxpayers' money further."
