CQUniversity launches Mini Superhybrid technology initiative
CQUniversity has joined forces with Sunshine Hydro to develop a Mini Superhybrid™ that aims to support Central Queensland’s efforts to find further solutions for decarbonisation and serve as a globally significant testbed for long duration storage and renewable energy.
A Superhybrid™ is a novel piece of software, developed by Sunshine Hydro, that live models a renewable energy ecosystem including pumped hydro, electrolysers, wind and solar energy. The mini Superhybrid™ will provide a research testbed that allows for the development of a real-world Superhybrid™ that tracks power into the grid among other capabilities.
The two organisations signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to work together to develop and trial the technology.
“This partnership will assist in establishing deeper training capability for the technology, operation, and maintenance of flow batteries, electrolysers, hydrogen productions and dispensing, and methanol production facilities,” CQUniversity Centre for Hydrogen and Renewable Energy (CHRE) Director Paul Hodgson said.
“In doing so, it allows us to enhance skills development in the region through up-skilling and indeed cross-skilling workers in the energy and mining sectors as it will open doors to other projects, for example, green fuels.
“The potential for the CQU Mini-Superhybrid™ as a proof-of-concept to supply hydrogen as feedstock to a possible green fuels plant provides further opportunities for job creation, new skills and a path to enable Gladstone to become a future sustainable green fuels hub.”
As part of the MoU, CQUniversity and Sunshine Hydro have committed to co-funding two research higher degree scholarships through the Elevate Scholarship Program.
“The learnings that will come out of this will be world-leading and followed globally, informing how we build the future of long duration storage and renewable energy. Coursework will be developed based on it and students from all over the world will come to Gladstone based on this edge,” CEO of Sunshine Hydro Rick McElhinney said.
Mr McElhinney said this would also provide a model that is financially viable to support Long Duration Energy Storage in the market and accelerate the road map to turning the Port of Gladstone and other Australian locations into green fuel hubs.
