Science funding to power alternative energy research

Published Wednesday, 20 April, 2016 at 02:50 PM

JOINT STATEMENT

Minister for Innovation, Science and the Digital Economy and Minister for Small Business
The Honourable Leeanne Enoch

Minister for Main Roads, Road Safety and Ports and Minister for Energy, Biofuels and Water Supply
The Honourable Mark Bailey

The Queensland Government will invest more than $1.2 million in science research funding for the development of alternative energy sources and technology, including biofuel and biogas production.

Minister for Innovation, Science and the Digital Economy Leeanne Enoch today announced the recipients of five Advance Queensland Research Fellowships, all of whom will work in collaboration with industry to develop alternative energy solutions for Queensland.

“These recipients are among 54 scientists from across the state to share in $10.02 million from the first round of funding under the Advance Queensland Research Fellowship and PhD Scholarship programs,” Ms Enoch said.

“The Queensland Government is serious about the development of an advanced biofuels industry for Queensland.

“Innovative research will help us unlock the full potential of biofuels so that this and other forms of alternative energy can drive economic development and prosperity in Queensland, especially in regional areas.

“Funding recipients are required to work with an industry partner on innovative projects with the potential to deliver economic and social benefits to Queensland.”

Minister for Energy, Biofuels and Water Supply Mark Bailey said Queensland had some of the best solar resources in the world and was ideally placed to benefit as solar generation becomes an increasingly important part of the electricity generation mix.

“Energy supply in Queensland is undergoing a transformational change in the way it is generated, transported, and used – research surrounding solar storage and the integration of new technology into the network is invaluable to our future electricity network” Mr Bailey said.

“This goes hand-in-hand with the hard work Ergon and Energex are undertaking to research energy system integration and ensure a battery safety standard is ready for the coming battery storage uptake.

“Fellowship recipients include Associate Professor Bernadette McCabe, Dr Wayne Water, Dr Muxina Konarova, Dr Yateenda Mishra and Dr Shihu Hu, who will all embark on leading edge research into the bioenergy industry. 

“Bioenergy research will also help Queensland transition to a clean energy economy, grow the biofuels sectors and boost jobs in the industry following the Palaszczuk Government’s ethanol mandate.”

Associate Professor McCabe from the University of Southern Queensland will be co-located with a meat processor in Oakey and assist in optimising a large-scale biogas plant recently installed on site.

“Working in collaboration with industry, my team will develop ways to improve biogas production and reduce the carbon footprint of meat processing operations through more effective waste management practices,” Associate Professor McCabe said.

Mr Bailey said Queensland needed sustainable alternative energy sources that help reduce carbon emissions and minimise waste.

“Biogas technologies currently deliver energy savings of up to $1 million a year for large processors and reduce their carbon emissions by 90 per cent,” he said.

The research fellowships include:

  •          Associate Professor Bernadette McCabe from the University of Southern Queensland, who was awarded a researching fellowship totalling $300,000 over three years, to pursue research into biogas production in collaboration with one of Australia’s largest meat processing plants NH Foods Australia
  •          Dr Wayne Water from Griffith University, who was awarded a research fellowship, $180,000 over three years, to develop more efficient technology for solar energy collection and storage.
  •          Dr Muxina Konarova from the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, who was awarded a research fellowship totalling $180,000 over three years, to investigate the sustainable production of ethanol fuel from waste-gas.
  •          Dr Yateenda Mishra from Queensland University of Technology, who was awarded a research fellowship, $300,000 over three years, to look at the best way to maximise the integration of renewable energy and supporting technology into existing energy distribution networks.
  •          Dr Shihu Hu from The University of Queensland, has been awarded a research fellowship, $300,000 over three years, to develop a treatment process for maximising bioenergy recovery from waste water.

Read more about the Advance Queensland Research Fellowships and PhD Scholarships recipients on the Advance Queensland website.

 

Media contact: Daniel Lato (Minister Enoch) 0438 830 201

                       Tim Shipstone (Minister Bailey) 3719 7321