Monash Progress Report 2022 – Goal 7
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2022 Publications Performance
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Number of Monash Research Outputs: 252
Mean Field Weighted Citation Impact of Monash Outputs: 1.53
3 Year Rolling Mean FWCI of Monash Outputs: 1.94
Energy Futures
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Climate change, peak demand, the rise of distributed energy sources and digital-enabled lifestyles are leading to increasingly uncertain energy futures. In response to this, the Energy Futures Program in the cross-faculty Emerging Technologies Research Lab is developing non-predictive methodologies and speculations for future energy demand, to help guide policy and planning in the energy sector. Drawing on socio-technical concepts and theories the program is building future scenarios, principles and strategies of understanding, forecasting and intervening in emerging and possible energy futures.
The research team’s applied work collaborates with energy partners, including electricity distributors, consumer advocacy organisations and peak bodies such as Energy Consumers Australia. Through its research, the Program is helping to show how emerging technologies can contribute towards affordable, equitable and sustainable energy futures.
Other SDGs:
Enzymatic Biodiesel Production
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Monash University Malaysia School of Engineering researchers have demonstrated the possibility of developing an efficient, cost effective and sustainable process to produce biodiesel from waste oil using enzymes. The process uses a low-cost and commercial liquid lipase produced from genetically modified aspergillus oryzae, a mould used in food making. The output power from the enzymatic-produced biodiesel and its blends were comparable with that of the commercial petro-diesel B10. Furthermore, carbon monoxide emissions for the purified biodiesel was found to be the lowest among tested fuels. The findings from this work provide an opportunity to improve process economics and sustainability of biodiesel production.
Other SDGs:
Bacterial Energy Extraction from Atmospheric Hydrogen
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Groundbreaking research by Monash microbiologists in the Biomedicine Discovery Institute has revealed that an enzyme made by a bacterium common in soil is capable of producing electricity from thin air. The research, published in Nature, showed that the enzyme Huc works as a hydrogen gas scavenger, and unlike all other known enzymes and chemical catalysts, it can consume the gas below atmospheric levels. In this way the enzyme functions like a natural battery, making a small electrical current from air or added hydrogen.
Among a variety of other potential applications, the finding opens the way to create small super-clean and sustainable energy sources that make electricity from air or low concentrations of hydrogen.
Other SDGs:
AI for Clean Energy and Sustainability
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Low-carbon resources could potentially add $13 billion to GDP and save Australians $6 billion in power bills by 2040. At the same time, digital technologies are reshaping the energy sector, making production and consumption more efficient and reliable. The wide adoption of these devices is also enabling greater connectivity between operations, businesses and customers.
The Faculty of IT is leveraging these advances by leading a CSIRO-funded Next Generation Graduates Program on AI for Clean Energy and Sustainability. A multi-disciplinary cohort of PhD, masters and honours students at Monash and RMIT are participating in the program to explore innovative technologies to help drive the transition toward clean power in areas including energy and demand forecasting, AI optimisation for systems and consumer energy management.
Blockchain-based Peer-to-Peer Energy Trading
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With advances in solar energy generation and distribution, buildings may generate more solar energy than they consume and sell the excess to other buildings. Conversely, they can buy electricity from others, ultimately reducing fossil fuel usage. This leads to the idea of peer-to-peer (P2P) energy trading, where energy is traded without an intermediary at an agreed price. In South East Asia, P2P energy trading is a nascent technology, only implemented in Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore. A multidisciplinary team led by the School of Engineering at Monash University Malaysia are developing algorithms to enhance energy usage, minimising transmission loss and optimal pricing. This project also strives to create an optimal pricing mechanism and trading platform, making a positive contribution to P2P technology.
Solar Fuel Generation via Artificial Photosynthesis
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Amid depletion of oil and gas reserves, surging fuel prices, global warming and other environmental concerns, the search is accelerating for viable alternatives to fossil fuels.
Monash University Malaysia’s School of Engineering is driving this endeavour through research on solar-derived fuels, or solar fuels, with the aim to develop products that are compatible with our energy infrastructure today. Inspired by natural photosynthesis, the research teams have made significant advances to unravel the full potential of Photo-Driven Catalysis, the process in which solar energy is harnessed to knit together energy-rich products such as hydrogen (via water splitting), methane (via CO2/H2O conversion) and ammonia (via artificial N2 fixation).
Other SDGs:
Grid Innovation Hub
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Monash University Energy Institute’s Grid Innovation Hub is a collaborative research vehicle bringing together industry, government and our world-leading researchers to tackle some of the most important opportunities of our time through ingenious research and inspiring education. As part of its “Stability-enhancing measures for weak grids” project, which is developing solutions for incorporating renewable generation into electricity grids, the Hub held a free 1-day knowledge-sharing session for industry on the findings of the project.
Unit Statistics and Highlights
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In 2022, Monash offered 79 units directly related to SDG7 with 5,383 total enrolments.
The units highlighted below are a small sample of the units at Monash relating to affordable and clean energy:
Monash Business School Sustainable Futures Challenge
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The Monash Business School Sustainable Futures Challenge (SFC) is a bespoke learning program developed in partnership with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP), research consultancy InceptLabs and the Institute of Public Accountants (IPA) to engage students in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
For the inaugural challenge in 2022, student teams tackled SDG 7 to help deliver energy transitions for the Asia-Pacific region. During the intensive 10-day program, multidisciplinary teams collaborated to undertake independent research, create stakeholder analyses, and find holistic solutions to the problem. The Resilient Energy and Cybersecurity Technologies Toolkit (REACTT) Toolkit – a knowledge toolbox to provide policy advice to governments on the risk management component of energy transformation – was named best overall solution by UNESCAP.
Other SDGs:
Just Transitions in Australia
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Monash Sustainable Development Institute, in partnership with the Monash Emerging Technologies Research Lab and Royal Holloway University of London, published “Just Transitions in Australia: Moving towards low carbon lives across policy, industry and practice”. The report outlines how Australia can move equitably towards zero carbon emissions by overcoming socio-economic, location, scale and technology challenges, and offers governments, industry bodies, and civil society a set of principles for how Australia can shape transitions to decarbonisation across sectors. The British Academy (which funded the project) published an executive summary and policy synthesis. The team also delivered three public webinars to promote understanding of just transitions. The report received significant local and international print and audio media interest.
Other SDGs:
Policies to Accelerate Australia's EV Uptake
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Climateworks Centre launched the report “Accelerating EV uptake: Policies to realise Australia's electric vehicle potential”, setting policy priorities in six areas to inform a future national electric vehicle (EV) strategy. The report was released ahead of the 2022 National Electric Vehicle Summit, as part of a chorus urging for fuel efficiency standards. At the Summit, federal Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen, announced that the government would consider fuel efficiency standards as part of a national electric vehicle strategy.
Other SDGs:
Climateworks Centre Activities Driving Net Zero Action in Australia
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To support net zero transitions in Australia, Climateworks Centre published its second climate policy survey, “Government climate action: Leading policies and programs in Australia”, which tracks policy progress towards decarbonisation of all sectors for state, territory and federal governments around Australia.
The Net Zero Momentum Tracker Team also worked with the Australian Council of Superannuation Investors to produce the report, “Chasing 1.5°C, The ASX200 – on the right trajectory?”, which found a growing number of companies with increased scope and ambitious commitments, and a leading minority who have set their targets in line with 1.5 degrees Celsius.
The Australian Industry Energy Transitions Initiative, convened by Climateworks Centre and Climate-KIC Australia, works with partners from ‘hard-to-abate’ sectors, such as steel, aluminium and chemicals manufacturing, to develop net zero action pathways. In 2022, the program released its Phase 2 report: “Setting up industrial regions for net zero”.
World Alliance of Universities on Carbon Neutrality with SEU
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Monash is a member of the World Alliance of Universities on Carbon Neutrality, co-founded by our Monash-Suzhou partner Southeast University and the University of Birmingham. The World Alliance of Universities on Carbon Neutrality forms an international partnership of institutions with research strengths in this field – aiming to deliver science, engineering and technological solutions to help achieve climate change mitigation targets. The partnership brings together talented academics and students from high-profile global universities to work with industry, business, government, and research sectors towards achieving carbon neutrality.
Zero Emissions Solutions Conference (ZESC)
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Monash collaborated with the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) and other partners to organise the Zero Emissions Solutions Conference in parallel to COP26 in November 2021. The five day online event brought together 74 global technical experts and world-leading scientists, engineers, and innovators from business, academia, and civil society to share knowledge and showcase solutions to maximise climate commitments in the wake of the Paris Agreement. The conference welcomed over 2,000 participants from 104 countries.
Net Zero Initiative
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In 2017, Monash University made a commitment to achieve Net Zero emissions by 2030. Our award winning Net Zero Initiative aims to facilitate the transition to an energy-efficient, renewable energy-powered future by transforming and utilising campus assets to reduce our energy usage and carbon emissions.
Monash embarked on the following activities in 2022 to help realise net zero emissions at its Australian campuses:
Energy Use Intensity
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While total energy use is returning to pre-COVID levels with the full reopening of campus operations, the efficiency of Monash spaces continues to improve. Energy intensity (GJ/m2) increased by 8 per cent from 2021 to 2022, however it is 21 per cent below the 2015 baseline.
Renewable Energy
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Monash sources its renewable energy from rooftop solar photovoltaics across its four Australian campuses and off-site wind energy from the Murra Warra Wind Farm.
The University has steadily increased its reliance on renewable sources year on year. In 2022, renewable sources generated 62 per cent of the University’s electricity use and 31 per cent of total energy use (gas and electricity).
Monash is switching from gas to all-electric heating and hot water to reach the Net Zero 2030 target.
Net Zero Buildings
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In 2017, Monash University made a commitment to achieve Net Zero emissions by 2030. Our award winning Net Zero Initiative aims to facilitate the transition to an energy-efficient, renewable energy-powered future by transforming and utilising campus assets to reduce our energy usage and carbon emissions.
Monash embarked on the following activities in 2022 to help realise net zero emissions at its Australian campuses:
