University of Wollongong (UOW) and Endeavour Energy have signed a new research partnership that will provide $1.1 million of funding to develop the electricity grid of the future.
The partnership provides funding from Endeavour Energy to the UOW’s Australian Power Quality and Reliability Centre (APQRC) to continue its electrical engineering research, development and teaching activities.
UOW Vice Chancellor, Paul Wellings, said this latest agreement extended the partnership with Endeavour Energy to an historic 26 years of continuous support.
“This relationship is unmatched by any other Australian electricity network and university,” Professor Wellings said.
“I’d like to thank Endeavour Energy for its very generous investment of $6.82 million over many years.
“The APQRC continues to be a leading example of long-term industry and university collaboration for the benefit of customers, the community and the electricity supply industry.
“The Centre is Australia’s only power quality research centre and is recognised internationally for its expertise. The great strengths of the APQRC are its wide-ranging expertise in power systems and customer loads, its strong contacts with industry and knowledge of international research efforts.
“It also plays an important role in training the next generation of electrical engineers with more than 400 students graduating since 2008 with a focus on power system engineering.”
Interim Chief Executive Officer, Leanne Pickering, said Endeavour Energy was proud to partner with the University of Wollongong to invest in electrical engineering and improve power quality for customers.
“Our industrial and commercial customers have told us how important power quality and reliability is for the success of their business operations,” Ms Pickering said.
“Endeavour Energy recognises the need for practical research and development to maintain and improve the services we provide to our customers.
“Our customers depend on us to power their lifestyles and business success, so they can go about their lives knowing their electricity is safe, affordable and reliable.
“They also expect us to plan for their vastly different energy needs as Australia moves to a clean energy future.”
Ms Pickering said Endeavour Energy’s network was rapidly shifting from a one-way flow of electricity to a network featuring multiple mini generation power plants, all feeding into the grid across a wide area.
“Power quality is central to the efficient production, transportation and use of electricity both to and from customers and is critical for business success,” Ms Pickering said.
“To be successful, this transformation requires an openness to change and industry collaboration, something that Endeavour Energy has always strived to do.”
