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Distributed Energy and Energy Storage

Supplying energy onsite and on demand

Removing solvent on a rotary
evaporator as part of Lithium
Metal battery research

Many countries around the world are thinking about imaginative and cost effective ways to generate electricity in their cities, rural areas and homes. There is a global trend towards generating power, heat and cooling locally, using emerging gas technologies and integrating with selected renewables and traditional generation.

The term "distributed energy" refers to decentralised generation and use of energy. A process can be as sophisticated as heating, cooling and powering a commercial building using a combination of solar panels, microturbines, fuel cells and electricity from the main grid. It can be as simple as a Vietnamese villager using the gas produced from animal dung for cooking. Current technologies associated with distributed energy and power are largely based on gas.

Energy storage is a key element of improved energy delivery, increased reliability and reduced emissions. A range of existing and emerging technologies are applicable to distributed generation systems, central power producers, remote area power and the road transport industry.

Core competencies:

• expertise in designing, building, producing, maintaining and operating advanced energy storage technologies;
• research and innovation in supercapacitors, lithium batteries, ultra batteries, lead-acid batteries and fuel cells;
• expertise in waste heat recovery and conversion to value added products such as electricity or cooling;
• and expertise in energy management and control systems.

Distributed Energy and Energy Storage - Project Areas