ABOUT US
The ARC Research Hub for Integrated Energy Storage Solutions aims to facilitate the world’s transition to sustainable, reliable, secure and cost-effective energy through the generation of new knowledge and pivotal technologies in the areas of storage technology manufacturing, integration, optimisation, management, life cycle assessment and economic valuation.
The ARC research hub will develop competencies for integrating energy storage systems into energy networks and markets and link the conversion between gas and electricity in unprecedented ways to enable and increase flexibility in energy production, transport and use, and maximise the capabilities and economic opportunities for Australia.
The hub is led by the University of New South Wales, a Group of Eight (Go8) research intensive university in Australia and ranked top 50 internationally in ARWU 2017, and brings together world leading universities, institutes and corporations with strong track record of collaboration, research excellence and impact in the area of energy storage. The combined expertise and research innovations will deliver new solutions (from hardware to firmware) to the industry that will alleviate current bottlenecks in energy storage.
Novel and improved battery and supercapacitor technologies—in the form of vanadium, lithium-sulphur, iron- slurry and sodium-ion batteries, and methods for improving and supporting existing technologies such as lithium- ion
Novel and improved fuel cell technologies—in the form of low cost and high durability proton exchange membrane fuel cells and ammonia-based fuel cells, enabling hydrogen export in the form of ammonia and its usage at the electricity generation point, and methods for hydrogen storage
Advanced catalytic systems for power-to-gas conversion, extending the capability of fuel cell technologies and enabling complementary technology directly from renewable energy input (e.g. solar)
Demand management is a form of ‘virtual storage’. Shifting a large load from one time to a later time has the same effect on an electricity network as using a large battery to store excess power and deliver that power at a later time.
Advanced controls systems for monitoring, controlling, integrating and optimising both energy storage and renewable generation, including demonstrated application of systems at three scales—appliances, end us- er/household, community/building—as well as their integration into energy networks.
RESEARCH THEMES
GOVERNANCE
The ARC Research Hub governance structure includes:
Hub Director
The Hub director leads the overall project. He oversees the general management and the operation of the Hub.
Hub Manager
The Hub Manager supports the Director in the operational delivery of the research, training and industry goals of the Hub
Hub Management Committee
The Hub Management Committee overseas the general management and operations of the Hub and the Research Projects
Industry Advisory Board
The Hub Industry Advisory Board provides independent advice on Hub direction, strategy, project focus and mix, potential funding, relationships and partners
Governance structure
HOW WE WORK
How is our research financed?
Our research projects are financed with contributions from the ARC ITRP grant, other grants and contributions from industry partners. Our Chief Investigators’ time is supported by their employing university, and our Partner Investigators’ time spent on the project is supported by their employer. This combination of ARC and partner funding and in-kind contributions from universities and partners allows us to both guarantee resources as well as attract talented post-doctoral fellows and PhD candidates.
How do we work with our partners?
Depending on the project, our partner investigators have many different roles, from accompanying PhD candidates to supplying expertise, equipment, materials, or data for research. They may be testing and utilizing tools and processes developed from research as projects advance, or actively collaborating on a weekly basis.
How will our partners benefit from the research?
Under specific licensing terms, our partners will be able to use research results and new intellectual property in their processes and practices. They can access – and contribute - to cutting edge technological developments in the wide field of energy storage. By sponsoring PhD candidates, they also build relationships with highly qualified individuals – important in competitive workplaces.
How do we manage intellectual property?
Our intellectual property is managed according to UNSW practice, within a negotiated contractual agreement that conforms to both University, ARC and national standards, including the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research. Generally, any intellectual property developed will be owned by our universities, while partners will hold specific licensing rights within a given territory. These dispositions are to ensure that “benefits to Australia from the research it (ARC) funds are maximised through the effective management and use, including commercialisation, of intellectual property arising from ARC funded research.”
Learn more about the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research 2018.
Learn more about the National Principles of Intellectual Property Management for Publicly Funded Research
Learn more about UNSW Research Integrity Policies and Procedures