Envirosafe Solutions Focus on one Australian’s contribution to The Equinox Summit, in June 2011:
The Equinox Summit is run by Canada’s University of Waterloo Global Science Initiative and draws together leading scientists, future leaders and experienced advisors “to share insights in a spirit of open collaboration…in order to envision a low-carbon, electrified future coupled with a growing to expand the capacity, increase the resilience and security, and improve the efficiency of our energy systems.” [1]
The summit draws on experts from around the globe, including such luminaries as Alan Aspuru-Guzuk, a Professor of Chemistry and Chemical Biology at Harvard University who is currently working on next-generation solar technology innovations. It also includes Australia’s Cathy Foley who is Deputy Chief of Science, Material Science and Engineering at the CSIRO. As a physicist, she is focusing on superconductivity that could lead to technological leaps in how we produce and distribute our electricity.”Along with practical applications for mineral exploration and electricity transmissions, her research is also bringing the world closer to the development of fusion as a groundbreaking future energy resource.” [2]
Another Australian scientist who is a key contributor at the Summit is Emeritus Professor Maria Skyllas-Kazacos from the University of New South Wales. Her 1980’s invention of the Vanadiam Redox Battery has the potential to revolutionise the way we store energy and has groundbreaking potential for the future. “This type of battery is a unique type of flow battery that can repeatedly absorb and release huge amounts of electricity, making it possibly the best partner for renewable energy in the future.”[3]
Professor Skyllas-Kazakos says “The ability to store energy has been the missing link in efforts to incorporate renewables into out grid. But now, storage systems with the capacity to extend the usefulness of intermittent energy sources (such as solar and wind) are now becoming a reality. Storage systems – such as her battery – can ensure that the electricity generated when the wind is blowing or the sun is shining can be stored and used later, when the air is still or the sun is behind clouds.”[4]
Governments are now realizing that ongoing feasibility of these in terms of stable supply to the grid, must involve storage, and it is Professor Skyllas-Kazakos’ storage batteries, that may help to solve the problem. “Storage will need to be an important part of any smart grid in the future,” she says. “I believe that by 2030, we could change that by simply turning our attentions to a long neglected aspect of the power system – namely storage.”
Clean energy modes are important and paramount. But it is also the need for storage that will provide a missing link if these modes of energy are able to be embraced globally in the future. Professor Skyllas-Kazakos is also of the view that while “early renewable energy mandates have assisted in the development of the wind and solar power industries, without storage, further penetration of renewable energy into the grid will be at the expense of reliability. Without this driver, the renewable energy industry will remain fragmented and other competitive greenhouse gas abatement technologies (including carbon dioxide sequestration) will continue to attract an unreasonable level of government support despite their high technical, safety and financial risks.”
She has also stated that it is only relatively recently that governments – including the USA – have finally begun to realize the central importance of storage in the new energy age.
Envirosafe Solutions supports the groundbreaking work done by Australian scientists and believes in our nation’s ability to contribute to energy solutions in practical and meaningful ways. Support green change and support green industry. Telephone Envirosafe Solutions for more information on their range of outstanding environmentally friendly products. Envirosafe Solutions 1300 88 90 70.
[1] Waterloo Global Science Initiative. http://wgsi.org/content/about-summit
[2] Ibid.
[3] Ibid
[4] Ibid.
