The Newcastle Institute for Energy and Resources (NIER) has been officially opened at the University of Newcastle.

 

Funded with the assistance of a $30 million Australian Government grant, NIER is located at the former BHP-Billiton Newcastle Research Laboratories, a 3.8 hectare site adjoining the University of Newcastle’s Callaghan campus.

 

The NIER Governance Board will be chaired by Dr Eileen Doyle from the Hunter Valley Research Foundation. Other  board members include Federal Member for Newcastle, Sharon Grierson MP; Mick Buffier, Group Executive - Corporate Affairs, Government & Industry Relations and Sustaiable Development, Xstrata Coal; Geoff Lilliss, Managing Director, Ampcontrol; Martene Archer, Executive Manager Business and Strategic Services, Ausgrid; Rod Dukino, Technical Manager, BHP Billiton; Dr Peter Mayfield, Chief, Energy Technology, CSIRO; Professor Judy Raper, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), University of Wollongong; Mark Paterson, Director General, NSW Department of Trade and Investment, Regional Infrastructure and Services; Professor Mike Calford, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research), University of Newcastle; Dr Alan Broadfoot, Director, Newcastle Institute for Energy and Resources, University of Newcastle; Professor John Carter, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Engineering and Built Environment, University of Newcastle; and Professor Bill Hogarth, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Science and Information Technology, University of Newcastle.

 

The research program will focus on:

  • Reducing energy and water consumption in industries of national significance.
  • Lowering carbon emission through next generation clean coal and carbon capture and storage technologies.
  • Developing alternative energy sources including geothermal, biomass, wind and polymer solar cells.
  • Improving efficiencies in energy generation and conversion.
  • Creating smarter and more efficient networks for the distribution and utilisation of electricity and water.
  • Promoting social change and the sustainability of resources and the environment.

 

NIER brings together current research groups, including the following University of Newcastle Priority Research Centres (PRCs):

 

  • PRC for Advanced Particple Processing and Transport;
  • PRC for Energy; and
  • PRC for Organic Electronics
 

More information is at http://www.newcastle.edu.au/research/newcastle-institute-for-energy-resources.