Solar funds a ray of light for research

Canberra Times
Friday 16/1/2009 Page: 3

A $5 million Federal Government grant will help establish a worldclass solar laboratory in Canberra, which researchers hope will put Australia back on the cutting edge of solar development. The grant is part of the Government's $100 million election commitment to expedite solar research in Australia. The facility, planned to start operations in one year, will be built at the Australian National University to adjoin the university's existing solar laboratories. Associate Professor Maus Weber, from the college of engineering and computer science, will be one of the key researchers working within the new facility.

Professor Weber said he hoped the project would be the beginning of a far more productive era for Australia's solar industry. "We've been in a position in Australia where, in the last few years, there was comparatively little funding compared with overseas research institutions," he said. "Basically the standard of our laboratories has declined relative to what is available overseas, which makes it more difficult to remain internationally competitive. "What we want to do with this project is to get back to that level and have something that's right up there with the best facilities."

Researchers will carry out Australian Solar Institute research programs within the facility as well as existing programs. Resources and Energy Minister Martin Ferguson launched the Australian Solar Institute in Newcastle yesterday. Mr Ferguson said the new institute would provide support for researchers in the field of solar photovoltaics and concentrating solar thermal energy to help solar energy become cost competitive. "The Government believes cost competitiveness is achievable and that solar energy is a commercially viable energy option for the Australian community," he said.

Researchers at the ANU will continue to work on combined photovoltaic thermal systems, which are systems that generate electricity and heat, within the new facility. Normally when using a photovoltaic solar panel, at least 80% of incoming sunlight is converted to heat. The researchers are trying to capture and make use of this heat for applications such as heating water.

Professor Weber said the new facility would mean these kinds of projects could go "a lot further, a lot quicker. In other cases, it will allow its to come up with much more streamlined processes for getting towards the end product." The ANU will contribute $1.4 million to extend the Link Engineering Building to make space for the new facility. The extension will include a 360sqm concrete slab roof with solar access for outdoor testing and 400sqm of extra solar laboratory space.

Business development manager Igor Skryabin, from the ANU Centre for Sustainable Energy Systems, said training new researchers at their new laboratory would beat the top of their agenda. "Now it's very difficult to find a good solar researcher," Dr Skryabin said. "They're in very high demand in Australia and overseas. We are looking worldwide for the best brains to be attracted to Australia and now we will be in a much better position to do so."