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Solar Energy at the ANU
 

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pile of slivers characterization machine bigh dish and telstra tower
 

Latest News

May 2009: ANU solar researchers commenced a DSTO funded study.

ANU solar researchers  commenced a DSTO funded study to investigate the  feasibility of using solar energy harvesting to enhance capabilities of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV). The research includes an assessment of the feasibility of incorporating the Elongate solar cell technology within the structure of a representative tactical UAV, for example within the wing skin or fuselage skin. The outcomes of this study will be used to inform and direct future research in the applications of solar technologies for environmental-energy extraction on tactical UAVs.

May 2009: ANU receives $5M Aust Solar Institute Foundation Contract, commences construction of new laboratory.

The Australian National University has signed the $5 million contract for the development of the world-class solar research facility at the Centre for Sustainable Energy Systems of the ANU. The work has started with the relocation of offices and area's to make space for the development of the new labratory. Read more...

March 2009: First Singapore-Australia Solar Energy Workshop

The very first Singapore-Australia Solar Energy Workshop was held at The Australian National University in Canberra, on 30 and 31 March 2009. The purpose of the workshop was to explore and develop substantial research, commercial and governmental solar energy collaboration between Singapore and Australia, and stemmed from discussions between Professor Andrew Blakers and Professor Joachim Luther (CEO of the Solar Energy Research Institute of Singapore (SERIS)) in January. Read More...

March 2009: ANU researchers receive ARC Linkage grant

Researchers have won an ARC Linkage grant for a project to investigate methods to change the surface of a solar cell to improve its efficiency. Project partners are the German PV equipment manufacturer Centrotherm, and the Australian solar cell manufacturing start-up Spark Solar. Focusing on the solar cell surface regions, the project will aim to develop industrially relevant manufacturing techniques to achieve improvements in cell conversion efficiency and cost. The project will run for 3 years and is worth about $600K. Lead investigators at the ANU are Dr. Klaus Weber, Dr Hao Jin and Dr Keith McIntosh. Read More...

February 2009: ANU Reporter Cool Runnings

Electricity infrastructure is aging disgracefully, yet demands to power air-conditioning are on the increase. So what if the sun could be used to keep our homes and offices cool? That’s the vision of Dr Mike Dennis with an elegant solution. Read more in the ANU Reporter...

January 2009: ANU receives $5 million at the launch of the new Australian Solar Institute (ASI).

The Federal Government has provided $5 million for the development of a world-class solar research facility at the Australian National University. This was announced at the launch of ASI in Newcastle NSW. Read more...

January 2009: ANU researchers receive International Science Linkage Funds.

The Australian Government has successfully completed negotiations with China and this enabled the approval of our second project with Tianjin University: Efficient power/thermal co-generation from linearly concentrated sunlight by liquid-immersed solar cells. The project has been awarded funding of $350K. Read more...

June 2008: ANU researchers receive $2.1 million Defence grant

Elongate Solar Cells for Energy Generation: Researchers have won a $2.1 million Defence CTD grant to develop highly flexible solar panels with high efficiency under both normal and subdued light and with high power-to-weight ratios. These solar cells would allow soldiers to generate power in the field and reduce the need for batteries. The technology may be suitable for incorporation into wearable textiles and for use in a wide range of consumer and outdoor hand-held electronic devices to charge batteries. Read more...

June 2008: ANU researchers receive ARC Linkage grant

Researchers have won an ARC Linkage grant for a project aimed at minimising charge carrier recombination at silicon surfaces with improved dielectric coatings. The grant has been awarded to a collaboration of researchers: Dr Klaus Weber, Dr Keith McIntosh and Dr Jin Hao from the ANU, and Dr MJ McCann, Dr I Melnyk, Dr P Fath from Spark Solar and GP Solar.

The project has been awarded funding of $420K with further industry contributions from Spark Solar and GP Solar.

The project will help to develop a vibrant PV industry in Australia, creating substantial employment opportunities. Spark Solar is the first dedicated PV manufacturer in Australia. There is a large and rapidly expanding overseas export market for solar panels. In addition, the large scale deployment of photovoltaic systems will help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and thus mitigate the magnitude and severity of the effects of global warming.

June 2008: ANU researchers brave icy cold winter solstice swim!

Making front page news in Canberra, solar researchers from the ANU braved cold winter conditions for a swim in Lake Burley Griffin!! This act of courage was performed to mark the shortest day of the year, June 21. See front page of the Canberra Times...

Friday 16 May: ANU wins DuPont Innovation Award

SYDNEY. Friday 16 May: The Australia National University was today announced winner of DuPont Australia and New Zealand’s most prestigious Innovation Award, the Chairman’s Award, for its Second Generation Sliver Cell Technology.

Hailed as a breakthrough in photovoltaic technology, ANU’s Sliver Cell Technology uses innovative cell handling, assembly and electrical interconnection processes to form Raft SLIVER cell sub-modules. These cells could reduce photovoltaic module manufacturing costs by 60%, providing an economical, environmentally sustainable, renewable energy technology. Read press release.

ANU research boosted by new funding

May 2008: Funding of $382K has been offered by the Indo-Australian Science and Technology Fund for development of applications of our trough concentrator technology in conjunction with Anna University in India.

Jan 2008: We have signed a contract with the Australian Government for a $1.6 million project under the Asia Pacific Partnership Program to develop advanced photovoltaic - thermal hybrid concentrator receivers.

Jan 2008: The ARC Centre for Solar Energy Systems has received increased funding of $425K per year and has been extended to the end of 2010.

 

In 2007, staff received several awards for excellence:

  • Engineers Australia Australian Engineering Excellence Award for Sliver sub module assemblies (Everett, Blakers & Weber, 2007)
  • Weeks Award (Achievement Through Action), International Solar Energy Society (Blakers & Weber, 2007)
  • Engineers Australia (ACT Division), Engineering Excellence Award (2007)
 

New Staff Vacancies

We are actively seeking researchers and PhD students to contribute to our research activities. Please contact the Centre Manager, or look at ANU current vacancies.
 

Outcomes of the CSES review

The Centre for Sustainable Energy Systems (CSES) has recently been reviewed by external auditors. Read the outcomes of the review.

 

News Archive

 

21st September 2007

Prof Andrew Blakers and Dr Klaus Weber were awarded the Christopher A Weeks "Achievement Through Action" Award at the Annual Congress of the International Solar Energy Society in Beijing, China.
 

24th September 2007

Australian Institute of Energy NSW and ACT Excellence in Energy Awards
Highly Commended for SLIVER technology.


 

1st June to 3rd June 2007

2nd Australian International Green Build & Renewable Energy Exhibition & Conference
CSES will have a booth at the expo and Centre Manager, Ray Prowse, will deliver a presentation to the conference. Details see links at right.


Advert
Speakers
Web Link

12th February 2007

Web article on SLIVER Cells in Science Magazine


Link

30th October 2006 - VIP Visitor

Mr Greg Hunt - Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for the Environment


Pictures

12th October 2006 - Braemar College wins award

Braemar College has won the Macquarie Bank Future Problem Solving Program with the assistance of the Centre for Sustainable Energy Systems.
Outreach

25th July 2006 - Sir Alan Walsh Medal

Award by the Australian Institute of Physics for revolutionary Sliver cells.

 


Canberra Times Article

Pictures

6th July 2006- Keep Australia Beautiful 2006 - ACT Sustainable Cities Award


Sliver Cells win the Environmental Innovation award and Overall winner for 2006


Media Release

Keep Australia Beautiful site

2nd June 2006 - Magazine Article in Materials Monthly (Page 4)

Article titled: Slivers Away - Thinking outside the square = thinking inside the wafer. Discusses; More bang for your buck, transparent modules, flexible modules, attainment of high voltage, bifacial response and energy payback.
Link

3rd May 2006 - Magazine Article in Future Materials

Future Materials investigates developments in and applications of materials used in today's society. This edition includes an article on the issue of hyperpure silicon shortage and the solution that Sliver cells offers.


Link

1st May 2006 - Research Papers

The papers listed below are scheduled for presentation at the 2006 IEEE 4th World Conference on Photovoltaic Energy Conversion to be held in Hawaii from 7th to 12th May.

 

1st May 2006 - ANU Reporter Article "From cell to sell"

Article in the Autumn edition of the ANU Reporter on Sliver technology.


Link

30th March 2006 - VIP Visitors

Kim Beasley - Leader of the Labor Party and Anthony Albanese - ALP Environment Spokesperson

 


pictures

media release

Follow up letter from Mr Beasley

22nd March 2006 – Paper on Sliver Technology Prospects

Sliver technology could reduce photovoltaic costs by three quarters
download pdf

17th March 2006 – VIP Visitors

Anthony Albanese – ALP Environment Spokesperson


pictures

13th March 2006 – On Campus Newspaper Article

“Moments in the Sun” Developments in different solar energy technologies at ANU have been in the spotlight during a recent string of VIP visits


download pdf 

8th March 2006 – Canberra Times Newspaper Article

At ANU, the preference is sunny side up


download pdf 

7th March 2006 – VIP Visitors

His Excellency Major General Michael Jeffery – Governor General of Australia
Letter from the Governor General


pictures

3rd March 2006 – VIP Visitors

Senator Bob Brown – Leader of the Greens in the Senate 
Senator Christine Milne – Federal Greens
Dr Deb Foskey – ACT Greens, Member of the ACT Legislative Assembly


pictures

1st March 2006 – VIP Visitors

Senator Lyn Allison – Leader of the Democrats in the Senate


pictures

27th February 2006 – VIP Visitors

Mr Hermann Scheer - Member of the German Parliament, President of the European Association for Renewable Energy (EUROSOLAR) and General Chairman of the World Council for Renewable Energy (WCRE)


pictures

9th February 2006Canberra Times Newspaper Article

“Energy efficiency is about doing things better, not without” by Andrew Blakers and Klaus Weber


download pdf

15th December 2005 – Media Release

Rolling Awards for Sliver Solar Cells – Sliver Technology wins the Australian Institute of Energy 2005 Excellence in Energy Award for Innovation in Energy Science and Engineering


download pdf

7th December 2005Canberra Times Newspaper Article

2 articles
World-first solar power ideas get federal boost
Govt may drop emission targets 


download pdf

19th October 2005Canberra Times Newspaper Article

High-rise apartments proposed for sustainability

download pdf

1st September 2005 – Media Release

Sliver Solar Technology Does It Again – Sliver Technology wins the Global 100 Eco Tech Award at the 2005 World Expo in Aichi, Japan


download pdf

28th June 2005 – Media Release

CSES Researcher Awarded for Water Treatment System – Mondialogo Engineering Award for Reverse Osmosis Solar Installation for water treatment system in PNG


download pdf

6th June 2005 – Media Release

Solar Technology Wins Environmental Award – News of Sliver Technology’s success in winning the 2005 Banksia Award in the category “Environmental leadership in Infrastructure and Services”

Banksia Winner Logo with link to Banksia site download pdf

April 2005 - Canberra Company to Commercialise the ANU Dish Technology

Canberra company Wizard Power has negotiated the terms of a licence with the ANU to commercialise the Big Dish solar concentrator technology. Wizard plans to form a spinoff company together with strategic partners and work towards construction of a demonstration plant. For more details see www.wizardpower.com.au

The dish tracks the sun and focuses the radiation from 400m2 of glass mirror onto a receiver that produces 500°C steam for power generation.

View more information on Solar Thermal Research.