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POWER AND RENEWABLE ENERGY Energy capability within the Faculty of Engineering, Computer and Mathematical Sciences adelaide.edu.au
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Foreword 1 Sustainable Energy Systems Design 24
Preface 2 Collaborations and Successes 25
Context Now 25
Introduction 5
Background 6 Energy Cybersecurity and Platforms 26
Electricity Market 6 Collaborations and Successes 27
Energy Vectors Generation and Utilisation 6 Context Now 27
South Australian Government 6 Appendix 1 – Domain Expertise 28
Non-renewable Resources 7 Electrical Power Engineering 29
ECMS as an Energy Systems Leader 9 Energy Supply 30
Energy Vectors Generation and Utilisation 32
Electrical Power Engineering 12 Energy Storage Solutions 33
Collaborations and Successes 12 Modelling, Optimisation and Machine Learning
Context Now 13 for Energy Systems 35
Energy Supply 14 Sustainable Energy Systems Design 36
Collaborations and Successes 14 Energy Cybersecurity and Platforms 38
Context Now 15 Appendix 2 – Australian Non Renewable Energy Resources 40
Energy Vectors Generation and Utilisation 16 Australian School of Petroleum and Energy Resources 41
Collaborations and Successes 17 Appendix 3 – Key Institutes and Centres 42
Context Now 17 The Institute for Mineral and Energy Resources 43
Energy Storage Solutions 18 The Centre for Energy Technology 43
Centre for Materials in Energy and Catalysis 43
Collaborations and Successes 18
The South Australian Centre for Geothermal
Context Now 20
Energy Research 43
Modelling, Optimisation and Machine Learning
for Energy Systems 22 Appendix 4 – Energy Capability 44
University-Wide Capability 45
Collaborations and Successes 22
Context Now 23
FOREWORD
TODAY’S ENERGY MARKET IS EVOLVING AT
A RAPID PACE AND FOCUSED RESEARCH IS
CRITICALLY NEEDED TO MODERNIZE THE WAYS
WE GENERATE, DISTRIBUTE, AND MANAGE
TODAY’S ENERGY—BOTH ON THE ELECTRICITY
GRID AND AS WELL AS IN GAS PIPELINES.
Electrification is a pervasive phenomenon that is driving change — Professor Derek Abbott was with the
this occurs in everything from end-user products, advanced power
electronics switching and smart control systems on the grid, to General Electric Company (GEC), London,
renewable sources of energy with marginal operating costs. These UK, from 1978 to 1986 and has since
factors have transformed the grid into a dynamic place.
been with University of Adelaide.
Whilst this presents engineering challenges, it also creates exciting
opportunities for Australia. An energy policy vision for Australia
His interests are in multidisciplinary applications
is the intentional over-installation of renewables that will not
of electrical and electronic engineering, complex
only reduce the need for storage but will create excess electricity
systems, and energy policy.
at marginal operating cost. This oversupply can then open up
opportunities for economic generation of alternative energy vectors He is an Honorary Fellow of Engineers Australia,
such as hydrogen for both local industry and mass export. Fellow of the Institute of Physics (IoP), UK, and a
This document consolidates the considerable engineering expertise Fellow of the IEEE, USA. He has won a number
we have in the energy sector for both meeting such vision and also of awards, including the South Australian Tall
assisting with needed transitional solutions as Australia presses Poppy Award for Science (2004), the David
towards its energy future. Dewhurst Medal (2015), the Barry Inglis Medal
(2018), and the M. A. Sargent Medal (2019) for
Professor Derek Abbott, Convener eminence in engineering.
Energy capability within the Faculty of Engineering, Computer and Mathematical Sciences 1
PREFACE
The University of Adelaide I am delighted to have this opportunity
outline South Australia’s role in our nation’s
is an important contributor energy future, as it is well-aligned to the
University’s expertise.
to the scientific process Our State is committed to deliver affordable,
reliable, secure and clean electricity supplies
of identifying solutions to in a transitioning national energy market.
Without a doubt, South Australia is leading
deliver forward thinking the clean energy transition—even in a world-
technical, economic, social, wide context.
Given the challenges we have faced, the world
and environmental outcomes is paying close attention to our remarkably
fast transition. They are also paying particular
for Australia and on the attention to how we are responding to and
addressing those challenges. Our technological
international stage. advancements, coupled with our abundant
wind and sun, provide us with huge
opportunities both locally and globally.
2 Power and Renewable Energy
Australia is well on the way to achieving storage, demand management, and supply
net 100% renewables by the early 2030s. integration initiatives. Our $50 million Grid
Our renewable assets will not only provide Scale Storage Fund aims to bring forward
us with affordable clean energy—they will investment in new storage technologies capable
also provide new opportunities trade and of addressing the intermittency of our State’s
economic growth, including in the growing increasing renewable electricity supply.
field of renewable hydrogen production. Neoen’s expansion of its Hornsdale Power
While there is plenty of upside, some of the Reserve is the first project to be supported
changes occurring in South Australia also from this fund with $15 million awarded for
present significant challenges to SA and to the delivery of additional services to improve
the existing management of the national network security. With the first 100 MW or
energy market. 129 MWh of storage capacity, developed by
Neoen and Tesla under the previous state
The so-called duck curve in our energy
government, we will now support the 50%
generation is created by the extremely
expansion of The Big Battery near Jamestown,
high penetration of rooftop solar in South
which will be another Australian-first.
Australia. This curve represents high levels of
solar PV generation leading to low demand I expect this expansion to lead to significant
from the grid during the day, followed savings for consumers by allowing South
by lower PV generation and a pick-up in Australia to integrate even more renewable
consumption during the evening. Keeping energy into our energy system. It will
pace with the increasing number of solar also be a world-leading demonstration of
panel owners connecting to the grid has also how battery storage can provide inertia,
created challenges for network operators— protecting the security of the grid by keeping
both at a transmission and distribution frequency consistent. This is inertia that used
level—in trying to manage customers’ needs. to be provided by power stations such as
Northern and Playford.
South Australia is working to address these
issues, as well as increasing our connection The 50 MW or 65 MWh expansion will
with the rest of the grid so we can both enable a much faster response time to system
improve reliability locally and create disturbances such as network faults and
export opportunities. trips. Within milliseconds, the Hornsdale
Power Reserve can stabilise the grid, avoid
In partnership with industry and market
price volatility in the market and reduce the
bodies, our plan includes:
risks of blackouts. This expansion will also
• Support for a $1.5 billion interconnector help develop markets for these other services,
to NSW; helping to get more batteries into the system
• A $50 million Grid Scale Storage Fund; more quickly. The State Government is
currently engaged in negotiations with the
• The largest planned per capita rollout of
other shortlisted applicants for the Grid
home batteries in the world through the
Scale Storage Fund and I look forward to
$200 million Home Battery Scheme and
making more announcements about these
the Tesla VPP;
projects very soon.
• New approaches to managing demand;
Increasing storage at a household level is
• Accelerating gas exploration to improve also being rolled out. South Australian
supply; and households have already made a significant
• Seizing the huge opportunities created by investment in rooftop solar, with one third of
Today, South Australia generates more than the emerging global market for hydrogen. homes now generating their own solar power.
half of its electricity from renewable sources, Firstly, to improve reliability and increase The $100 million Home Battery Scheme
compared to the turn of the century when our capacity to export requires improved is an Australian-first, designed to optimise
wind and solar contributed less than one per connection to the National Electricity these investments by encouraging the uptake
cent to our energy mix. Market. Project EnergyConnect—otherwise of household storage technologies. This scheme
known as the SA-NSW interconnector—is gives all grid-connected South Australians
South Australia now has a remarkable an opportunity to access subsidies of up to
portfolio of renewable generation assets the most advanced project in the Australian
Energy Market Operator’s Integrated System $6,000 towards the cost of a home battery
and storage assets that are emerging quickly. that can reduce their power bills, together
We have 21 large-scale wind farms as well Plan. The South Australian Government
has underwritten $14 million of early work with $100 million in low-interest loans. As
as two large-scale solar farms in operation of November 2019, more than 4,600 South
across the State. by ElectraNet and TransGrid to expedite
delivery of Project EnergyConnect as soon Australian homes have had new batteries
In terms of large-scale storage, we have Neoen’s as possible. installed or are awaiting installation.
Hornsdale Power Reserve and ElectraNet’s Another success story is the South Australian
battery at Dalrymple on the Yorke Peninsula. Renewable energy developers are already
lining up to take advantage of new renewable Virtual Power Plant. The South Australian
We also have Infigen’s battery at Lake Government and retailer Energy Locals both
Bonney in the SE and Nexif’s battery at energy zones along the interconnector route.
If regulatory and development approvals support the Tesla Virtual Power Plant (VPP).
Lincoln Gap near Port Augusta being built The VPP comprises a network of home solar
and soon to come online. line up, we can expect the first stage of the
project to be up and running as early as 2022. photovoltaic and Tesla Powerwall battery
With more than another 40 wind, solar, systems across the state working collectively
and energy storage projects currently Other steps are being progressed to address to generate electricity at the same rate as
under development or construction, South our supply and demand issues with a mix of a power station. We have installed more
Energy capability within the Faculty of Engineering, Computer and Mathematical Sciences 3
than 900 systems so far, with participants The Plan for Accelerating Exploration Gas more reliable and cleaner energy? The
achieving a 29% saving on their energy bills, grant program—or PACE Gas—has brought Essential Services Commission of South
compared to standing market contracts. The forward investment in the Cooper Basin and Australia recently reported South Australian
project continues to break new ground, as supported the renaissance of the onshore consumers are already beginning to benefit
the first VPP registered to participate in the Otway Basin. from some of these energy initiatives.
Australian Energy Market Operator’s VPP The report showed that average annual
Together, the new supply brought forward
Demonstrations. This programme shows the residential electricity market offer prices fell
by PACE Gas grants is helping to keep
capacity for consumers’ rooftop solar and by 3% in the 12 months to 30 June 2019.
downward pressure on gas prices and
battery storage systems to provide scalable This is equivalent to an average annual bill
provide new competitive sources of supply
energy to deliver network services. reduction of $62 for a customer on a market
for local users such as power plant operators.
offer. Moreover, the Australian Energy
And it is already earning its stripes. In South Australia is also in prime position to
Regulator (AER) confirmed that South
October this year, the Kogan Creek coal be the hydrogen export centre of Australia.
Australia’s 2019 electricity costs are lower
power station in Queensland tripped off In September, Adelaide hosted the 8th
than they were in 2018.
unexpectedly, causing the power system International Conference on Hydrogen
frequency to drop below acceptable Safety, the ideal venue to have launched our As a government, we have set an ambitious
operational levels. South Australia’s VPP Hydrogen Action Plan for South Australia. target of accelerating annual Gross State
detected the frequency drop and responded Product growth to three per cent by focusing
The Hydrogen Plan sets out a vision for
immediately to inject power into the grid and to on nine key sectors of the economy. There
leveraging our wind, sun, land, infrastructure
assist in the return to normal system frequency. is much more to do. Investment in low cost
and skills to become a world-class renewable
and affordable energy will be a key factor in
This is another example of the leading-edge hydrogen supplier of choice. We already have
generating the jobs, infrastructure, skills and
innovation that puts South Australia at the a suite of renewable hydrogen production
innovation needed to achieve our economic
forefront of energy transformation. The projects under development in South Australia,
growth objectives. Notwithstanding the
first two phases of the VPP, totalling 1,100 including a plan to blend hydrogen into the
fact that significant challenges exist, South
connected homes, is drawing to a close. Work domestic gas distribution network. The first
Australia’s energy future is bright. Our
is underway to design a phase three that of these breakthrough hydrogen projects is
emergence as a clean energy transition leader on
involves connecting at total of 50,000 homes on track to begin operation next year.
the global stage is creating new opportunities
to the VPP, harnessing a generating capacity Our focus will be on supporting existing and for investment, growth and jobs.
equivalent to a 250 MW power station. new renewable hydrogen projects in South
I hope I have provided some insight into
Storage is only part of the solution—we also Australia to build on the domestic use of
our vision, our successes, and the many
need to address when and how we use our renewable hydrogen as a stepping-stone to
opportunities we are seeking to grasp as a
energy and better match our demand and exports. Hydrogen exports are modelled
State as we continue on the path to becoming a
supply. South Australia is now routinely to provide $4 billion in economic benefits
world leader in the clean energy transformation.
setting new records for low grid demand and 7,000 jobs to Australia by 2040. We are
I am delighted that the foregoing document
due to the penetration of solar PV. Our determined that South Australia will become
outlines tremendous expertise, vision, and
$11 million Demand Management Trials a very prominent part of this emerging and
capability that exists at the University of
program is designed to demonstrate how very real opportunity.
Adelaide, which is in perfect alignment with
new technologies can play an important We will export renewable hydrogen to our the State’s strategic direction.
role in making the grid more efficient, while trading partners in Asia, who are already
rewarding consumers for managing their looking towards hydrogen consumption as
own demand. a key part of their own energy transitions—
Several projects have already been funded but they cannot make green hydrogen
under the program, including: themselves. As part of the action plan,
we have committed to a landmark study
• A trial looking at how existing air
of existing and potential infrastructure
conditioners can be optimised to better
required for an international-scale renewable
manage peak demand;
hydrogen export value chain. The resulting
• Looking at how small commercial energy tool and prospectus will provide interested
users can maximise their investment in parties with a solid base of information they
backup generators while helping to make need to develop hydrogen production and
energy more secure and reliable for all export infrastructure in South Australia.
consumers; and
South Australia is a large state with remote
• Investigating how permanent automated communities, prospective mineral regions,
demand response can save customers and long transport routes, and so hydrogen
money on their power bill by having a large is also an exciting flexible fuel for our future
appliance in their home turn up, down, on domestic use. At the 2019 COAG Energy
or off, based on real time wholesale prices. Council meeting in Perth, Australia’s
While half of our generation is from National Hydrogen Strategy, written by
renewable energy, South Australia still relies Chief Scientist Dr Alan Finkel, was adopted
on natural gas to play a vital role in our by all states and the Commonwealth. South
energy transition. Gas prices continue to Australia will become a producer, consumer
challenge electricity affordability. The State and exporter of green hydrogen and green
ammonia in the not too distant future. Hon Dan van Holst Pellekaan MP
Government’s response to tight demand for
Minister for Energy and Mining
natural gas has been to accelerate investment So what progress is there so far on our main
in new supplies that producers must offer objectives in this area of more affordable,
first to local customers.
4 Power and Renewable Energy
INTRODUCTION
At the national level, we find an interplay and complexity of the energy network,
between (i) the politics of National Energy which in turn has led to challenges around
Concerns about Policy, (ii) changes in market dynamics
driven by short-term supply demand
robustness and network predictability.
While the Government seeks to address
anthropogenic climate imbalances, and (iii) shifts in net baseload the rising cost of electricity and energy
versus distributed and intermittent electrical
change have driven energy supply.
generators and distributors look to manage
an increasingly complex energy mix, a
increased focus on Against this backdrop there exists an increase variety of new companies are looking to
the technologies for in wind and solar energy utilisation, the use South Australia for the manufacture and
of batteries and pumped hydroelectricity. deployment of greener and more sustainable
generating, distributing Moreover, there is an increasing interest energy generation and storage solutions
and utilising energy and technological progression in future (such as Tesla, Sonnen, GFG Alliance).
energy and fuel sources such as hydrogen,
toward a greener and more concentrated solar thermal and biomass.
It is likely within the next few years that
South Australia will inflect to a position
resilient future. There is an increasing awareness across
industry, government and the general public
where the majority of its electrical supply is
generated from distributed sources—such as
that energy systems require “big picture” photovoltaic (PV) panels and wind generated
analysis and strategic thinking in order to power—with attendant risks created by the
ensure network reliability, affordability, and physical network moving beyond the known
lower emissions. parameters of current network modelling.
The focus on environmentally sustainable
sources of energy and fuels is driving global Locally, South Australia’s adoption of The Faculty of Engineering, Computer
energy agendas and underpinning major renewable energy generation and storage and Mathematical Sciences (ECMS) can
industrial, technological and infrastructure technologies over the past decade, has position the University of Adelaide as a
decision-making around our energy future. created opportunities to take world-leading leader in the transitioning energy landscape.
initiatives in renewable energy solutions. This
has necessarily increased the heterogeneity
Energy capability within the Faculty of Engineering, Computer and Mathematical Sciences 5
BACKGROUND
Over the last decade, South Australia has positioned itself
as a global leader in the adoption of renewable electricity
through a strong domestic uptake of rooftop and
commercial scale photovoltaics, the deployment of wind
turbine farms across the state and, more recently, the
diversification of utility-scale solar thermal and energy
storage projects.
This progressive stance on renewable energy Energy Vectors Generation
has attracted a number of global energy
and Utilisation
companies to the State to develop, test and
operationalise their technologies, as well The move to close the cycles of energy
as creating a wider commercial ecosystem resources requires us to think of means to
supporting the establishment and growth of generate energy vectors such as hydrogen, South Australian Government
renewable energy SMEs. ammonia, syngas, liquefied natural gas The South Australian Government has shown
(LNG) and bio-fuels that can store, transfer commitment to the energy sector strategically,
Electricity Market and release energy in an efficient and cost socially and economically, as more companies
competitive manner. look to work with the State in deploying
This rapid evolution of the renewable
energy market has raised a number of new Closing the cycle requires future energy renewable technologies from the domestic
challenges to address in order to ensure a vectors to be carbon neutral when generated through to utility scale solutions. The
clear pathway to stable, integrated, efficient and utilized. This can potentially be achieved Government leads and coordinates a broad
and affordable electricity generation, through capturing of emitted carbon from range of cross-portfolio renewable energy and
distribution and storage. fossil based fuels, either before it is used energy storage projects. Areas of focus include:
or capturing the carbon from large industrial • Large scale renewable energy generation
The National Electricity Market (NEM) has systems, sequester it or converted back
changed significantly as coal-fired generation and storage, such as wind, solar PV,
to fuel. bioenergy, battery, pumped hydro, solar
plants have been retired and replaced with
wind and PV generation, while the use of An alternative approach is the direct thermal and thermal storage;
battery storage is growing rapidly. utilization of renewable energy sources for • Integrated electricity management through
all sectors especially when they coincide a Virtual Power Plant model;
Recent reviews of the NEM have determined with the geographical location where they
that Australia needs to increase system are being generated. This is particularly • Behind-the-meter energy production such
security and stability to ensure future pertinent for concentrating solar energy, as rooftop solar, bioenergy, distributed
reliability to all customers and stakeholders. where thermal energy can potentially replace storage, energy efficiency and demand
The power system underpinning the NEM the use of fuels as the source of heat for management;
now needs to respond to a more dynamic, industrial processes or power generation. • Hydrogen production, domestic use and
intermittent and technologically diverse for export;
electricity generation landscape. There is There are major opportunities for Australia
a critical need for adequate energy storage to develop technologies and approaches that • Uptake of zero carbon emission vehicles
solutions, such as batteries and pumped allow the cost effective generation of energy and investment in charging and refuelling
hydroelectricity, to be integrated in to the vectors, such as hydrogen and its derivatives infrastructure;
current electricity network. that can be transported and utilized in • Supply chain development of low carbon
different parts of the country or as an export technologies; and,
The Australian Energy Market Operator commodity in the future.
(AEMO) acknowledge the NEM needs • Research and industry partnerships in low
to be more actively managed, and there Australia’s abundance of renewable energy carbon technologies.
is increased need for fast-start and rapid- is a major advantage that can only be fully
utilized when effective energy vectors are Major projects currently underway in South
response technologies to accommodate Australia include:
changes in renewable energy output and used to transport this energy to markets
improve power system security. where they are most needed and that generate • The Riverland Solar Storage project led by
the maximum return for the country. the Lyon Group to build Australia’s largest
solar farm in South Australia’s Riverland;
6 Power and Renewable Energy
THE ELECTRICAL
ENERGY CHALLENGE
The fundamental challenge for power generators and
distributors in moving to a greener, more sustainable
energy future is ensuring the reliability, affordability
and security of electricity to all end users. This sector/
industry scale transformation needs to be driven
by informed decisions that optimise resources and
infrastructure, utilise the most effective and efficient
technologies and minimise disruption and uncertainty.
Recent reviews of the national electricity market have
determined that Australia needs to increase system
security and ensure future reliability in this market. The
security and reliability of the national electricity grid
has been compromised by poorly integrated variable
renewable electricity generators coinciding with
the withdrawal of older coal and gas-fired generators.
Though seemingly immense, this challenge gives rise
to a multitude of opportunities including energy
storage and utilisation; advanced energy conversion
technologies; a move from centralised to decentralised
scenarios; use of smart and micro grids; peer to
peer energy trading; future fuels and biomimetic
approaches and new materials for energy generation,
conversion and storage.
• Comprising a new 330 MW solar At the utility-scale, the South Australian National Energy Resources Australia
generation plant (two phases) and 100 Government launched the $50 million (NERA), one of the Federal Government’s
MW battery storage system (Development Grid Scale Storage Fund (GSSF) on 19 six Industry Growth Centres, was
Application approved, planned November 2018, aiming to accelerate established to maximise the value of the
construction Q1 2019); the roll-out of grid-scale energy storage energy resources industry to the Australian
• The Port Augusta Renewable Energy Park infrastructure across the state. economy. Challenges include predicting
led by DP Energy will be one of the largest Tesla and the South Australian Government market volatility, addressing high capital and
hybrid renewable energy projects in the have partnered to establish the SA Virtual operational expenditures of exploration and
southern hemisphere, consisting of 59 Power Plant (SA VPP), a network of up to production and emissions management.
wind turbines and almost 400 hectares of 50,000 homes across South Australia to form NERA has identified opportunities for the
solar photovoltaic (PV) panels amounting the world’s largest virtual power plant. energy sector that require a combination
to a combined generation capacity of 375 of business development, adoption of new
The first phase of the project is now
MW (Development Application approved; technologies and industry-focused research.
complete with 100 home energy systems
Approaching financial close); and These include:
installed around the State. Phase Two,
• SA Water $300 million investment in the currently underway, will trial the systems • Increasing collaboration amongst operators
installation of 154 MW of solar PV and working as a virtual power plant and their to maximise asset productivity;
34 MWh of energy storage across more ability to generate the additional energy for
• Improving collaboration between
than 70 of the utility’s sites. Adelaide-based an extra 320 Housing Trust households.
operators and technology and engineering
Enerven, a wholly-owned subsidiary of SA
service providers to increase innovation
Power Networks, will deliver the project. Petroleum Resources and productivity;
The South Australian Government is also Realising the full potential of the local non- • Leveraging the critical mass emerging in
incentivising the energy storage market renewable sector, such as gas reserves from Australian operations to develop an export-
by offering funding schemes that support the Cooper/Eromanga Basin in the northeast oriented and competitive service and
investment in both domestic and utility-scale and the Otway Basin in the southeast, technology sector; and,
storage systems. is also a critical component of South
Australia’s energy future. The identification, • Developing shale and tight gas basins to
The Home Battery Scheme (HBS) is a $100
management and optimised recovery of support domestic demand, and potentially
million State Government investment that
non-renewable resources are key factors for export.
will subsidise up to 40,000 domestic energy
storage systems with the aim of alleviating in the State’s economic prosperity and in The Australian School of Petroleum and
rising energy prices and providing increased Australia’s energy security and in our global Energy Resources and Energy Resources
stability and security for the local energy market. competitiveness. within the faculty houses a wide ranging
Fundamental and applied knowledge in capability and expertise that services both
Through the HBS, households are able to
conventional and unconventional energy current and future petroleum-related research.
choose whether or not their home battery
system is part of a broader virtual power plant resources, reservoir characterisation and A capability summary of the petroleum
to help address electricity network instability production optimisation will be critical in research domain is provided in Appendix 2.
issues and balance out peak power demands. generating a solution to secure efficient,
reliable and affordable power.
Energy capability within the Faculty of Engineering, Computer and Mathematical Sciences 7
THE HYDROGEN
ECONOMY
Hydrogen gas has long been recognised as
a versatile energy carrier vector that can
revolutionise the energy industry.
In recent years, interest in hydrogen has risen The South Australian Government has also
dramatically as nations, corporations and research examined the economic viability of the hydrogen
organisations acknowledge hydrogen as a critical economy from a state perspective through its own
component in the decarbonisation of power Roadmap, identifying a number of advantages
generation, transport, and thermal energy. Hydrogen such as established renewable sector and abundant
can be utilised in a range of ways including: solar resources, market proximity and transport
infrastructure. Currently, South Australia has four key
• Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEVs) such as buses,
hydrogen projects in various stages of development:
trucks, agricultural equipment and cars;
• Hydrogen Super Hub. Located at Crystal Brook,
• Electricity Grid Firming such as grid connected
Neoen Australia’s 50 megawatt (MW) Hydrogen
electrolysers that can be ramped up and down to
Super hub is planned to be the world’s largest co-
help manage grid stability and produce hydrogen
located wind, solar, battery and hydrogen facility.
for energy storage;
• Hydrogen Park SA. Australian Gas Infrastructure
• Remote Area Power Systems (RAPS) utilising
Group’s (AGIG) Hydrogen Park located at Tonsley
hydrogen produced via dedicated renewable
will deliver a 1.25 MW electrolyser plant that will
energy inputs,
produce hydrogen from renewable electricity. This
• Industrial Feedstock including the incorporation hydrogen which then be injected into the local gas
of clean hydrogen in industrial processes (replacing distribution network.
hydrogen derived from hydrocarbons); and,
• The Hydrogen Utility™ (H2U) is set to construct
• As a source of industrial heat to replace fossil fuels a hydrogen and green ammonia production facility
to produce materials such as steel. near Port Lincoln, consisting of a 30 MW water
The CSIRO recently published the National electrolysis plant, as well as a facility for sustainable
Hydrogen Roadmap that outlines the pathways ammonia production.
to creating an economically sustainable hydrogen • The University of South Australia’s demonstration
industry in Australia. The roadmap outlines key project includes hydrogen production, a hydrogen
elements of the hydrogen value chain that, if fuel cell, a flow battery, chilled water storage, and
appropriately supported through commercial, social, ground and roof-mounted solar photovoltaic (PV)
regulatory and R&D initiatives, may have a significant cells. The project will cut campus emissions by 35
impact in the decarbonisation of the energy and per cent and reduce peak demand on the grid.
industrial sectors. Most recently, the Council of
Australian Governments (COAG) Energy Council
has released the National Hydrogen Discussion
Paper for consultation (March 2019).
8 Power and Renewable EnergyECMS AS
AN ENERGY
SYSTEMS
LEADER
The University of Adelaide has invested in intellectual capital displaying
the motivation, networks and capabilities (direct and translational) to
collaboratively address the challenges faced by the energy sector.
Within the Faculty of Engineering, More specifically, ECMS has the opportunity • Industry Transformation: Renewable
Computer and Mathematical Sciences to fill critical gaps in the current energy Energy Generation; decarbonisation of
(ECMS), energy capabilities can be grouped landscape through the delivery of long term Industrial Processes; Techno-Economic
into seven primary domains: solutions that address challenges such as: Evaluation; Industrial Transformation;
Energy Efficiency;
• Electrical Power Engineering; • Grid Reliability: Stability, Resilience and
Security; System Monitoring and Control; • Industrial Process Heat: (Solar) Hybrid
• Energy Supply;
• Grid Planning Tools: Storage Planning; Technologies; Gasification Technologies;
• Energy Vectors Generation and Utilisation;
Storage Control; Infrastructure; • Power-to-X: Power-2-Chemicals; Power-2-
• Energy Storage Solutions; • Energy Storage: Planning and Fuels; Power-2-Food; Power-2-People;
• Modelling, Optimisation and Machine Management (including capacity and • Future Fuels: Renewable Fuels (including
Learning for Energy Systems; location); Materials Innovation; Storage Hydrogen and its derivatives); and,
Optimisation; Pumped Hydroelectricity;
• Sustainable Systems Design; and, • Energy Security: System Security;
Water Systems Modelling; Water Pumping;
• Energy Cybersecurity and Platforms. Network Modelling and Management;
• Market Modelling: Market Analysis; Infrastructure Security.
These primary energy capability domains Scenario Modelling; Predictive/Responsive
can be directly mapped to the challenges Systems; In addressing these challenges, the Faculty of
faced by the local and national energy Engineering, Computer and Mathematical
• Demand Management: Climate and
markets and have great impact in areas of Sciences has the opportunity to consolidate
Weather; Market Modelling;
energy generation, distribution and storage; and grow itself as an international leader in
• Infrastructure Management: energy transformation and to become a vital
decarbonisation of industrial processes; and
Optimisation, Risk/Hazard Mitigation; contributor to the State’s energy reliability
the optimisation and security of national
markets and infrastructure. • Petroleum Exploration and Production: and security.
Well Productivity and Enhanced Recovery;
Porous Media; Petroleum Geoscience;
Carbon Sequestration;
Energy capability within the Faculty of Engineering, Computer and Mathematical Sciences 910 Power and Renewable Energy
PRIMARY DOMAINS
1. Electrical Power Engineering
2. Energy Supply
3. Energy Vectors Generation and Utilisation
4. Energy Storage Solutions
5. Modelling, Optimisation and Machine Learning
for Energy Systems
6. Sustainable Energy Systems Design
7. Energy Cybersecurity and Platforms
Energy capability within the Faculty of Engineering, Computer and Mathematical Sciences 111. ELECTRICAL
POWER ENGINEERING
As the world moves to a more sustainable
future by harnessing increasing amounts of
renewable energy sources such as wind and
solar, the complexity of power generation,
distribution and storage increases.
Electricity is being generated, distributed, Collaborations and Successes
stored and traded on a range of scales,
from individual households, community The Power Systems Dynamics Group
level, industrial plants and grid scale. This (PSDG) within the School of Electrical and
complexity is highlighted by a range of Electronic Engineering has been working in
challenges including maximising the use of partnership with the industry for over two
renewable energy sources while ensuring decades, undertaking technically challenging
stability and security of the power system projects to help ensure power system security
and seeking to minimise overall costs. and reliability.
The future electricity network requires Research and development contracts have
electricity generation, distribution and supported the operations of companies and
storage infrastructure to be connected and organisations such as the Australian Energy
responsive, possessing the ability to rapidly Market Operator (AEMO), Powerlink
interpret a wide range of data and respond to Queensland, TransGrid, VENCorp, Transend
issues accordingly. Networks, Hydro Tasmania and ElectraNet.
The next generation of management Their commercial power system software
software modelling and optimisation tools MUDPACK (MUltimachine Dynamics
can utilise (i) machine learning and artificial PACKage) is a comprehensive set of
intelligence to develop predictive models and interactive tools used to analyse system
demand scenarios, and (ii) rapidly identify dynamics and control system design.
failures and deliver responses to minimise This software is currently used by all eastern
customer disruption and protect network state Transmission Network Service Providers
infrastructure. These tools will also maximise (TNSPs) and AEMO as well as a range of
the benefits of sharing electricity between all Australian and overseas consulting companies.
customers and at all scales, creating a more
resilient electricity network.
12 Power and Renewable EnergyThe increasing penetration of renewable
energy, the reduction of conventional
electricity generation and the increasing
integration of energy storage facilities
are driving the future management of
electric power systems.
Electrical Power Engineering is focused
on the tools, systems and processes that
will help ensure the reliable and cost-
effective supply of electrical energy for all
customers.
Domain Lead
Associate Professor Wen Soong
Domain Experts
Professor Cheng-Chew Lim; Professor
Peng Shi; Professor Derek Abbott;
Assoc. Professor Nesimi Ertugrul;
Assoc. Professor Mike J. Gibbard; Assoc.
Professor Cornelis (Keith) Kikkert; Mr
David Vowles; Mr Qi Ming Zhang; Dr Ali
Pourmousavi Kani; Dr Said Al-Sarawi;
Dr Aaron T. Pereira; Dr Andrew Allison
The PSDG has also led the development of that will have the capability of growing gallium Within this changing landscape, the
sophisticated software tools for ElectraNet arsenide (GaAs) materials with applications modelling of short-term dynamics of large
SA for the purpose of calculating power for high efficiency triple junction solar cells grids with high levels of intermittent and
transfer limits within and between regions of and power converters in the lower power range. variable (asynchronous) generation are not
a power system under any set of operating These new materials are game changers in well understood. The data and management
conditions. These planning tools are used by the area of power electronics, both with the tools currently being utilised were designed
ElectraNet on a daily basis to determine the potential for transforming the characteristics to cater for a power system with significant
secure operational limits of the system. of the grid and as an enabling technology for base-load (synchronous) capability.
In 2017, the University of Adelaide initiated integration of renewables. Both Government and electricity providers
a strategic partnership with Silanna (generators and distributors) are looking
Semiconductor P/L to establish the Silanna Context Now for the most effective way to predict
picoFAB, a multimillion dollar research electricity usage, manage peak demands
facility for growing advanced, wide band gap The South Australian Government is actively and optimise energy storage to ensure a
semiconductor (WBS) materials. supporting renewable energy projects within stable supply. The recent examples of the
the State that will have significant impact on Hornsdale Power Reserve in responding to
Silanna’s commercial focus is in the area the way electricity is generated, distributed, fluctuations in the energy grid offer insights
of silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride stored and traded. These projects range into how new technologies can be effectively
(GaN) wide bandgap semiconductor devices. from localised and community-level projects integrated into the network to ensure stable
Currently, both SiC and GaN devices are such as the South Australian Virtual Power power delivery.
disruptive technologies for power electronics Plant (VPP) to grid-scale projects such
on today’s grid and transformation towards as the Hornsdale Wind Farm and Power As indicated earlier, Tesla and the South
electrification, providing efficient power Reserve. This drive to increase renewable Australian Government have partnered to
switches and inverters. energy power generation and energy storage establish the SA Virtual Power Plant (SA
coincides with the proposed mothballing VPP), a network of up to 50,000 homes
In a further joint initiative between DST,
of the Torrens Island A Power Station (by across South Australia to form the world’s
Silanna and the University of Adelaide
2021) and the deployment of diesel back- largest virtual power plant.
(IPAS, ECMS, Department of Physics), a
new microFAB facility is being established up generators at Lonsdale and Elizabeth to
manage peak summer demand.
Energy capability within the Faculty of Engineering, Computer and Mathematical Sciences 132. ENERGY
SUPPLY
While significant effort is
being directed to incorporate
renewable energy into the
national electricity market, there
is also a need to decarbonise
transportation and energy-
intensive industrial processes.
In 2016–17, transport, manufacturing and Technologies such as the use of concentrated application in the heavy industrial sector.
mining represented 65% of total energy solar thermal energy for process heat, The value of this technology is particularly
consumption in Australia (27.5%, 27.5% thermal storage, and the production of green high in high temperature industries
and 10.0%, respectively) in contrast to a hydrogen are fundamental to the future of that require all three of these chemicals.
combined residential and commercial usage low and zero carbon metals. The program is co-developing patented
of 13.1%. New power generating technologies, such technologies from the partners, while also
as ocean power, also have the opportunity better understanding their value proposition.
New technologies are needed to decarbonise
the energy-intensive processes, such as those to continue to the lower cost of secure, The inaugural High Temperature Mineral
used in the manufacture of iron/steel and affordable and sustainable electricity. Processing (HiTeMP) Forum held in
cement, since current processes rely almost September 2018 and saw members of
exclusively on fossil fuels. However, new Collaborations and Successes industry, research and government agencies
markets for those few metals for which green convene to discuss the drivers, barriers,
processes are available, such as aluminium, The Centre for Energy Technologies is enablers and opportunities in moving
are driving investment to develop other green working closely with a range of research towards the production of zero carbon
metals. For this reason, the University of and industry partners, Alcoa, Hatch, ITP, products from mineral resources.
Adelaide is directing much of its research CSIRO and UNSW) on the incorporation
of concentrated solar thermal technologies The forum sought to identify pathways
effort to supporting the transformation of to transform the energy-intensive high
these ‘difficult to abate’ industries, for which (CST) into the commercial Bayer alumina
process. This $15.1 million project is on temperature processes (particularly targeting
the dominant energy requirement is typically the iron/steel, alumina and cement/lime
high temperature heat, rather than electricity. track to meet its investment targets to justify
installation or upscaling of three technology industries) and to better understand how
The transportation sector is also in platforms to supply half of the energy such a transformation might play out. The
transition. The emergence of electric vehicles requirements for the process with CST. Second HiTeMP forum, which is scheduled
is continuing to grow for domestic and light- for March 2020, will build on these
duty commercial vehicles, while hydrogen is Researchers are also partnering with the outcomes to also include copper production.
expected to play a growing role for heavier German Aerospace (DLR) and CSIRO to
vehicles and long-haul transport owing to its develop a novel technology for co-producing
greater energy density. hydrogen, oxygen and sulphuric acid for
14 Power and Renewable EnergyThe pathway to a low or zero-carbon
energy future requires the development
and commercialisation of new power
generating heat, and fuel technologies
that capitalise on renewable resources
such as solar, wind and wave energy.
This is supported by the application
of hybrid technologies in our power-
intensive industries to reduce the use of
non-renewable resources.
Domain Lead
Professor Graham (Gus) Nathan
Domain Experts
Professor Bassam Dally; Professor
Benjamin Cazzolato; Professor Eric
Hu; Professor Peter Ashman; Professor
David Lewis; Assoc. Professor Maziar
Arjomandi; Assoc. Professor Zeyad
Alwahabi; Assoc. Professor Paul Medwell;
Assoc. Professor Boyin Ding; Dr Zhao
Tian; Dr Woei Saw; Dr Philip Kwong; Dr
Philip van Eyk; Dr Mehdi Jafarian; Dr
Alfonso Chinnici; Dr Rey Chin
In 2019, a $2M Joint Research Centre that Context Now The new technologies, including those under
seeks to combine wave ad wind energy was development by the CET, have the potential
announced. The Centre, funded by the A diverse range of commercial, societal to make significant environmental and
Australia-China Science Research Fund and environmental drivers are emerging to economic impact for companies as well as
sees the University of Adelaide working fundamentally transform our energy sources help foster their social licence to operate with
in partnership with three other Australian for the new low-carbon economy. These communities, councils and government.
universities, CSIRO, industry partner drivers are already emerging in the mining
sector, which is increasingly incorporating The HiTEMP Forum identified hydrogen
Carnegie Clean Energy, and Chinese and concentrated solar thermal energy as
partners led by Shanghai Jiao Tong University. more renewable energy, and technologies
are now also under development for the high being particularly prospective technology
The centre aims to combine wave energy with temperature industrial processes. While platforms to support the transformation
wind energy, thereby optimising the levelized somewhat behind the electricity sector, the of the high temperature process, while
cost of energy (LCOE) for both technologies. transformation of this sector is expected to increased electrification will continue to
ramp up now that major corporations, such become more important, particularly for the
It will do this by looking to share common
as BHP, have committed to carbon-zero targets. low temperature processes.
grid connection, power converters, moorings
and even using the turbine towers as wave Global and national companies in SA, and Partnerships between industry, research and
energy converters. In addition to this funding elsewhere in Australia, are increasingly government are vital to enable this transformation
success, the group’s academic outputs have incorporating low-carbon technologies be undertaken most cost effectively.
also been recently recognised. into current operations both in response to
University of Adelaide contributors include investor demand and to access new markets
the Acoustics Vibration and Control research that emerging for low-carbon products.
group and Optimisation and Logistics group.
Energy capability within the Faculty of Engineering, Computer and Mathematical Sciences 153. ENERGY VECTORS
GENERATION AND
UTILISATION
The safe and efficient transportation, storage
A greener and more
and conversion of renewable and non-renewable sustainable energy future
fuels is fundamental in our transition to a
greener and more sustainable energy future. relies not only on the adoption
Innovations in the emerging renewable fuels of renewable energy sources
value chain as well as the efficient management
and optimisation of our non-renewable resources for electricity generation and
help ensure a stable transition to a new, low
carbon energy future. storing electricity for later
consumption, but also on the
Domain Lead
Professor Bassam Dally
development of new energy
Domain Experts
sources to fuel industry
Professor Shizhang Qiao; Professor Graham and society.
Nathan; Professor Peter Ashman; Professor Volker
Hessel; Assoc. Prof Paul Medwell; Dr Mehdi
Jafarian; Dr Alireza Salmachi; Dr Neil Smith
16 Power and Renewable Energy• A source of thermal energy to replace Context Now
fossil based heat generators, such as in the
production of steel and aluminium. The movement to develop carbon neutral
fuels is a global pursuit. In particular,
Fuels can also be derived from waste organic investigations into the use of hydrogen and
material through a range of processes ammonia alternative energy vectors, has
including torrefaction where the biomass significant momentum as it is seen as a
is converted to a higher energy coal-like significant export opportunity to countries
material and Solar Gasification where such as Japan and South Korea if Australia can
biomass is treated with steam to form Syngas strategically develop capabilities in producing,
using solar energy sources. transporting, storing and using hydrogen.
Bio-crude oil can also be produced from the CSIRO has published the National
bio-solids found in wastewater treatment and Hydrogen Roadmap outlining the pathways
waste biomass. Hydrothermal Liquefaction to creating a hydrogen industry in Australia.
(HTL) is one of the leading methods used to It defines the key elements of the hydrogen
convert this material into valuable products value chain that, if appropriately supported
such as transport fuels and their precursors. through commercial, social, regulatory
The use of thermal energy is also a critical and R&D initiatives, will have a significant
vector when examining industries that require impact in the decarbonisation of the energy
high temperatures, such as mineral processing, and industrial sectors.
oil refining and metal processing. In this The report also highlighted the need for
case, the storage of thermal energy can help a reduction in hydrogen production cost
increase the renewable energy share and through technology development and
which can be utilized for power generation, alternative routes that allows the capture,
process heat, and renewable fuels generation. storage or utilization of the carbon. At
An essential step in the success of this approach least three different technologies are being
is the development of novel thermal storage considered by researchers at the University
technologies, spanning sensible, latent and of Adelaide, which show premise and
chemical energy. This work is being supported competitive edge over existing technology.
Energy vectors, such as hydrogen, syngas,
liquefied natural gas (LNG) and bio-fuels by projects including the Australian Solar The South Australian government has also
carry energy that can be used to generate Thermal Research Institute and the ARENA examined the economic viability of the
electricity, drive engines and produce heat. Bayer project. hydrogen economy from a state perspective,
identifying a number of advantages such as
These fuels can be produced through a Collaborations and Successes established renewable sector and abundant
number of processes that range in efficiency, solar resources, market proximity and
energy consumption and amount of carbon Muradel Pty Ltd, developers of Australia’s
first integrated demonstration hydrothermal transport infrastructure.
emitted during the process. New methods
are being developed to help reduce the liquefaction plant, was founded in December Most recently, the COAG Energy Council
amount of carbon needed to create these 2010 through a partnership between the has released the National Hydrogen
new fuels and advanced materials such as University of Adelaide, Murdoch University Discussion for consultation Paper (March
catalysts are being developed to maximise and SQC Pty Ltd. 2019) and the Australian Chief Scientist
the efficiency of fuel production as well The plant is designed to investigate the use is working on a comprehensive national
as remove the need for energy-intensive of microalgae to treat waste water, ready hydrogen strategy that will be released before
reactions and processes. for reuse or environmental discharge. The the end of 2019.
Looking at hydrogen, it can be produced remaining biosolids are used to develop When considering non-renewable fuel
through a number of processes and when it is and commercialise bio-products such as sources, the demand for LNG for local
used as a fuel, it produces only water vapour. agricultural soil ameliorants, fish feed and baseload power generation (and industrial
Hydrogen has a variety of uses including: bio-crude oil. processes) and its importance to Australian
The Future Fuels CRC, which was exports is also critical in transitioning to a
• Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEVs) such greener and more sustainable energy future.
as bus fleets, trucks, agricultural equipment established in 2018, is an industry focussed
RD&D partnership supporting Australia’s The need to maximise current wellfield
and personal vehicles; productivity and deliver LNG to the market
transition to a low carbon energy future. The
• Electricity Grid Firming such as grid seven year, $81 million program involves efficiently and reliably will be important in
connected electrolysers that can be ramped over 60 companies, six universities, the reducing the cost of LNG and strengthening
up and down to help manage grid stability energy market operator and two regulators Australia’s energy future.
and produce hydrogen for energy storage; and aims to develop solutions that will The use of concentrated solar heat as
• Remote Area Power Systems (RAPS) prepare the industry infrastructure, pipelines an energy source is also being actively
utilising hydrogen produced via dedicated and utilities for future carbon neutral fuels. investigated by energy-intensive industries.
renewable energy inputs; The University of Adelaide is involved in The use of these technologies to drive
both the techno-economics of fuel generation energy-intensive processes such as refining,
• Industrial Feedstock including the
and in the technology development needed reduces and/or bypasses the demand for
incorporation of green hydrogen in
for utilization and adoption. electricity and grid connection. This
industrial processes (replacing hydrogen
technology can be coupled with thermal
derived from hydrocarbons); and,
storage solutions to optimise processes and
reduce costs.
Energy capability within the Faculty of Engineering, Computer and Mathematical Sciences 17You can also read
