ALTHOUGH remote and alternative power technologies have wavered in political popularity over the years, they have been a core interest of Murdoch researchers since the university’s outset.

In 1987, this research interest was grouped together to form the Murdoch University Energy Research Institute (MUERI).

“As the State’s only research institute concerned with renewable energy for nearly a decade, MUERI kept the continuity of this research going in Western Australia when the government had lost faith in its value until climate change issues emerged again” said Professor Philip Jennings, Head of Murdoch Mathematical and Physical Sciences and one of the founding members of MUERI.

“This was advantageous for Western Australia when climate change issues came to the fore.

“Renewable and remote energy research at the university has flourished over the past decade at the university, due to MUERI acting as a platform for basing the Australian Cooperative Research Centre for Renewable Energy (ACRE) at Murdoch and for Western Power’s sponsorship of interest in the renewable energy engineering degree.”

And despite the fluctuating government commitment to the field, farmers and other members of remote communities have been taking advantage of Remote Area Power Supply (RAPS) technology for years at a demonstration site on Murdoch campus.

This site has to date given approximately 6,000 interested visitors an opportunity to see the RAPS systems at work, and examine long-term data about their efficiencies.

MUERI’s RAPS research originally aimed to improve the reliability and efficiency of energy systems, such as creating invertors for power electronics, and working on optimal diesel hybrid systems, fuel cells, wind generators and photovoltaics.

However, research has evolved and expanded as knowledge in the field has grown, and has since moved towards software for designing RAPS systems.

MUERI Director Dr Trevor Pryor said the research has enabled the institute to distinguish itself internationally as an independent tester and assessor of RAPS technologies springing from private enterprise.

Current testing involves monitoring Japanese solar cell technology in natural and controlled simulated conditions.