RISE is a Murdoch University research centre possessing the expertise and flexibility to offer a full range of testing, research & development, education and training, policy analysis, demonstration, monitoring and resource assessment services in the field of sustainable energy.  It aims to make a useful contribution to the future development of Australia’s sustainable energy industry. RISE Capability Statement

The RISE energy management and renewable energy systems design team, comprising qualified engineers and consultants with considerable industry and sustainable energy experience can provide Renewable Energy Systems Design and Consultancy Services.

ResLab is the RISE Test Centre - providing high quality accredited testing for industry and the community. ResLab has an emphasis on renewable energy systems and components. However it is working to expand its testing services in line with the aims and vision of RISE. ResLab Capability Statement

Click here for RISE Research Publications

Memberships

RISE is a proud member of the following industry groups

Australian PV Power Systems Consortium

Australian Business Council for Sustainable Energy

Western Australian Sustainable Energy Association

RISE Areas of Research Interest

• Sustainable Transport

• Hydrogen as a fuel
  RISE has been involved in the research projects associated with the Perth Fuel Cell Bus Trial.  Building on this, RISE would like to develop a Hydrogen precinct in the Murdoch area that would encourage the development and uptake of hydrogen fueled vehicles.  Numerous studies will be needed to establish the feasibility of this, and if successful, many projects will flow from the establishment of such infrastructure.
  
• Biodiesel
  RISE has both contacts with companies developing biodiesel options and a small transportable biodiesel production/demonstration plant.  The use of biodiesel is one possible area of renewable energy that could provide a very significant contribution to a cleaner, more sustainable transport system.  Projects available range from the development of such an industry through to the evaluation of the operation of vehicles running on such fuels.
  



• Hydrogen Fuel Cells

• Fuel cells in stand-alone power applications
  Several studies have been undertaken on the applicability of fuel cells in stand-alone power applications.  A fuel cell has been set up as the backup supply to one of the stand-alone renewable power systems in the Renewable Energy Display.  The operation of this fuel cell in such a role will provide an interesting insight into the ability of the current generation of fuel cells to undertake such a role.
  
• Testing of fuel cells for real-life applications
  RISE has a facility for testing the performance of fuel cells under real operating conditions.  The use of a programmable load bank can cycle the fuel cell through controlled load profiles and step changes.  Such testing provides an indication of the ability of such systems to meet real world loads.
  



• Testing of stand-alone power systems and components

• Testing protocols for MPPTs and other components
  The area of developing standards and test procedures for Maximum Power Point Trackers is a relatively new one.  Many issues need to be addressed if such devices are to be adequately tested for safety and performance.  The RISE test facility has a range of equipment to allow some of these issues to be explored in great detail.  Such facilities include a 25 kW PV array simulator, a real 5 kW PV array that can be configured in many different formats and state of the art measuring equipment to measure the performance of electrical equipment.
  
• The field performance of stand-alone systems
  RISE has a number of systems operating in the Renewable Energy Demonstration facility in the RISE Outdoor Test Area.  The performance of these systems is being monitored continuously.  The interaction of the load with the renewable inputs, together with the fuel cell backup system installed in one of these systems provides the basis for many useful research projects.  There are also projects available in terms of using IV curve tracers to monitor the output of real arrays in the field.
  



• Distributed Generation

• Can renewables assist the main electricity grid?
  The issue of whether renewables can provide a net benefit to the main electricity grid is a worthwhile area of exploration.  The issues range from whether PV can reduce the summer peak load problems to what are the consequences of intermittent renewables on the conventional electrical network and what level of penetration is required before these consequences become discernable.
  
• The integration of renewables into deregulated electricity markets
  The issues of how renewables can be incorporated into the rapidly expanding deregulated electricity markets are becoming increasingly important.  The situation in Western Australia provides a very compact system in which such issues can be explored.
  



• Small Wind turbines

• Standards for testing small wind turbines
  There are some concerns that the current standards for testing wind turbines are very much targeted at the large utility wind farm turbines and that they may not be the most appropriate procedures for the small scale wind turbines used in stand-alone power applications.  There are many areas that could be explored in the testing of such small scale wind turbines (up to 60 kW) that could lead to a more relevant testing protocol.
  
• Small wind turbines in the built environment
  There is an increasing interest in placing wind turbines on the top of buildings in the built environment.  A range of issues exist with such projects.  What is the effect of the turbulent nature of the wind resource in such systems?  Could this harsh wind environment cause issues with such turbines which could harm the overall wind industry?  Work needs to be done to establish a set of guidelines for such applications so that the wind industry is enhanced by such activities.

• Sustainability in the Built Environment

  
  

RISE Publications

RISE research publications focus on the areas of Stand-alone Power Supply (SPS) Systems, Distributed Generation, Sustainable Transport Fuels & Systems and the Built Environment.