Centre for Sustainable Energy Development

The Centre for Sustainable Energy Development has been established to provide a clear focus around developing a systems-based approach to renewable and distributed energy systems, process intensification, process integration, distributed chemicals manufacture, sustainable technology and green engineering. This systems-based approach will provide a framework for understanding the complexity of these issues for decision makers, not only in industry and the community, but also for those affected by such decisions. Examples include electricity supply, development planning, planning for infrastructure, minerals and energy facilities and resource development.

There is a broad need from the university, the community and industry to plan for more substantial and longer term resources in order to provide a broader and more relevant teaching and learning facility, and to undertake research projects that will deliver sustainable energy solutions for Australia and globally. Our vision is for a vibrant and internationally relevant research and teaching centre that practices what it preaches, engages the community and attracts researchers, scholars and the general community to its activities. The brief of the Centre will primarily be one of research, with focussed teaching responsibilities.

The work of the Centre will cover:

• Clean energy technologies and their role in mitigating climate change;
• Process intensification, process integration and distributed chemicals manufacture;
• Eco-technology, i.e. creating products and processes that maximise resource and energy utilisation and have minimum environmental impact (renewable energy, zero emission process design and advanced materials).

The centre is built on the technological resource base of the School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, significantly enhanced by the externally funded Chair in Sustainable Energy Development, which is being supported by Delta Electricity. The external funding of the Chair and the strong competitive funding for the Laboratory for Sustainable Technology provide a unique environment to forge and enhance industry links.

Key staff

Professor Tony Vassallo, Director, Delta Electricity Chair in Sustainable Energy Development, School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
+61 2 9351 6740
anthony.vassallo@sydney.edu.au

Professor Brian Haynes, Director of Research, School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

Associate Professor Tim Langrish, Head of School, School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

Associate Professor Andrew Harris, Director of the Laboratory for Sustainable Technology, School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering