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.

Definition of “Sustainable Energy”

Many different terms, such as “clean energy”, which tends to be used to mean low carbon pollution per unit of energy produced, and “green energy” and are now used. We have used the term “sustainable energy” for a number of reasons, but we recognise that its meaning can be imprecise and that this results in the term being used by different groups to mean very different, and often contradictory, things. We therefore want to define what we mean by the term.

Our meaning is borrowed from Johannson and Goldemberg (2002) who have argued that for energy use to be considered sustainable it needs, among other things, to be produced from renewable energy resources (an energy source that is able to replenish itself as rapidly as it is used) and to be used efficiently.

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RISE Personnel Professional Summaries

Sandie has over 20 years of marketing management experience, having worked in the clothing industry in South Africa and the postgraduate legal training market in the UK. Sandie also has expertise in project venture capital, finance and strategic business consultancy. She worked for the Australian CRC for Renewable Energy as Project Administration Manager and so brings to RISE a sound understanding of the sustainable energy industry in Australia. Sandie currently markets RISE’s consultancy and testing services through business and marketing planning, managing the production of marketing materials, event coordination, industry networking, website management and advertising. Sandie also contributes to RISE consultancy projects and submissions for government funding for various renewable energy projects.

Hari is the Testing Manager for ResLab at RISE. He has an extensive background in renewable energy based power systems, inverters and control. His areas of research are power systems, power quality, dynamic analysis of renewable energy systems, grid connected photovoltaics, wind-diesel hybrid systems, modeling of RE based systems, grid compatible inverters and control systems. He has considerable experience in power distribution system design and commissioning for power systems companies, including project management, financial analysis, feasibility reporting, certification, technical specification and consultancy. He also has professional experience in certifying grid-connected renewable energy system designs for Western Power. Hari is also an approved NATA signatory and has extensive experience in NATA accredited laboratory testing of single phase and three phase grid-connected inverters, stand-alone inverters, renewable energy systems and battery charge controllers for a wide range of electrical tests. Hari is a Chartered Professional Engineer, a corporate member of the Institute of Engineers, Australia (IEAust), registered on the National Professional Engineers Register (NPER-3), and is a member of the Electrical College. He also has BCSE accreditation for design and installation of stand-alone and grid-connected photovoltaic power supply systems.

Garry Baverstock has been designing, building, educating and researching in the field of ESD for over thirty years and is the winner of numerous awards for housing design. He is a national leader in the field of sustainable architecture and as the Manager of RISE’s Built Environment Program, he has developed Murdoch University’s Masters of Environmental Architecture course. Garry regularly holds informative sessions for home-makers to raise the awareness of energy efficient design and ecologically sustainable development. With over 50 national and international papers and publications, including co-authorship of the design manual "Low Energy Buildings in Australia", Garry has been appointed Adjunct Professor in Energy Studies at Murdoch University.

Oscar received his Bachelor of Engineering (Electromechanical) at the Toluca Institute of Technology in Mexico and his Masters in Engineering Science (Electrical) at the University of New South Wales. Oscar has been involved with renewable energy research and development since 1993 an has worked for the Department of Non-conventional Energy of the Electrical Research Institute of Mexico and the University of New South Wales’ School of Electrical Engineering and Telecommunications. He has extensive experience in renewable energy project development including project management, design, testing, installation, monitoring and performance evaluation. Oscar joined RISE in 2004 to research inverter control, modeling and evaluation of photovoltaic systems, and technical requirements for grid connection of distributed generators. He is currently involved in the development of Australian and international standards for renewable energy system design and installation as well as component safety and performance requirements. Oscar is a member of Standards Australia sub committee EL-042-04 Inverters for Stand-alone Systems which is part of committee EL-042 Renewable Energy Power Supply Systems and Equipment. He holds NATA signatory status for inverter and charge controller testing.

Mehulbhai (Mehul) received a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering at Gujarat University in India, and a Doctorate in renewable energy at Murdoch University. As the Instrument Systems Engineer and RE Display Advisory Officer, Mehul has extensive experience in renewable energy system design, component testing and consultation for a range of renewable energy applications. Mehul has assisted in designing sustainable accommodation modules, energy and water efficiency alternatives, modeled load demand and technology output profiles, and carried out stand-alone and hybrid photovoltaic system and component performance testing. He is also experienced in modeling interrelationships between various load profiles and hybrid RAPS system components, to investigate suitability for mine-site accommodation designs. Mehul’s analyses commonly involve the use of a range of simulation software (including RAPSIM, HOMER, and HYBRID2) to design, assess and optimise the performance of his systems.

Andrew graduated with Honours in electrical engineering from UWA in 1992 and has 10 years industry experience in inverter and solar battery charger power electronic design. He has undertaken research at RISE since 2003 and has specialist knowledge of renewable energy and power conversion systems. Andrew has worked in private companies and for RISE as a technician and senior research and development engineer. His work has investigated a diverse range of technologies including: maximum power-point tracker (MPPT) solar battery chargers, inverter chargers, roof-top grid connected photovoltaic inverters and various other power conversion technologies. Andrew has recently undertaken projects simulating large solar arrays, developing standards and equipment for solar array and inverter testing, and tracing array IV curves. Andrew also has experience as a tutor, laboratory supervisor and design engineer for the School of Electrical, Electronics & Computer Engineering at the University of Western Australia.

Colin has over 15 years experience in providing technical assistance and support for University and Cooperative Research Centre research projects involving photovoltaic systems, passive solar systems, wind generators and fuel cells. Colin has undertaken an impressive array of renewable energy component and system technology research for the Murdoch University Energy Research Institute (MUERI) and AcreLab, and now works in RISE’s renewable energy system testing program. His role in the program includes testing of power inverters, solar charge controllers, batteries, photovoltaic panels, passive solar hot water collectors and fuel cells. Colin also maintains and calibrates the laboratory equipment in the RISE Test Centre, ResLab, to the high standards required by NATA.

Wayne has a wide range of skills qualifications and experience including calibrating and testing electrical equipment. He has considerable expertise in the Royal Australian Air Force repairing, maintaining, testing and commissioning of helicopters and other aircraft. Wayne also has industrial experience servicing, maintaining and overhauling industrial refrigeration systems for both shore-based and fishing vessels. Wayne’s diverse training and qualifications include an Electrical Worker’s License (Restricted), Energy Safety Gas Fitting Permit, Microwave Oven Testing “Repairer” License, a Radio Technician for the Royal Australian Air Force and is a qualified refrigeration mechanic. While working for RISE, Wayne is also undertaking a diploma in Renewable Energy.

Ms Taylor has overseen the office administration of RISE since its inception, after holding a variety of personal assistant and office managerial positions for researchers at Murdoch University and the Australian Cooperative Research Centre for Renewable Energy.

Australian Photovoltaic Power Systems (PVPS) Consortium

Clean Energy Council

Western Australian Sustainable Energy Association