Future Energy and Resources

The global transition to sustainable fuels and chemicals is driving the conversion of low-value carbon feedstocks—municipal solid waste, agricultural by-products, and heavy fuel oil—to high-value products like methanol and Fischer-Tropsch liquids, with the dual aim of lowering environmental effects. Standard practices rely on fossil fuels and result in high carbon emissions, escalating climate change.

This study examines an integrated system that combines oxy-steam gasification with the electrolysis of water and CO2 to transform emissions and waste into valuable fuel with a near zero-carbon footprint. The study provides valuable information on the feasibility of the process, hence providing the basis for subsequent techno-economic analyses of the process on a scalable basis to produce low-carbon emissions fuel.

Project by: Phong Nguyen

The world's rising energy demand requires safe and sustainable solutions. Hydrogen is a clean energy carrier that can help balance supply and demand. This project looks at storing hydrogen gas in underground rock formations that were once used for oil and gas. The main objective is to explore whether these reservoirs can act as safe and reliable storage sites for hydrogen. However, storing hydrogen underground remains challenging due to its unique properties which may cause undesired migration and complex interactions with the surrounding rocks and fluids, ultimately reducing the efficiency of the storage. This project utilizes a numerical reservoir simulation software (CMG-GEM) to study how hydrogen moves and interacts within geological formations, with a focus on reservoir sealing integrity and overall safety. The results of the study will provide insights into hydrogen behaviour to improve safety, maximise storage capacity, and support the design of reliable underground hydrogen storage systems.

Project by:

• Joud Altuwairqi 
• Mayasir Bangakh 
• Sadeem Alharthi 

A global push to reach net-zero emissions by 2050, combined with aviation’s 2% contribution to global CO₂ emissions, has accelerated the development of cleaner aircraft technologies. The Dragonfly 4s, a hydrogen-electric aircraft designed by Blue Spirit Aero, is analysed in this study to quantify its full life cycle impacts and provide a comprehensive sustainability assessment.

This project applies the ISO 14040/44 Life Cycle Analysis framework to assess environmental and economic performance of the Dragonfly 4s across five stages: raw material extraction, manufacturing, operation, maintenance, and end-of-life. Objectives included quantifying carbon emissions and energy consumption, evaluating resource efficiency, and comparing the Dragonfly with benchmark aircraft (Cessna, Cirrus, Diamond, and Alpha Electro). Additional modelling extended the analysis to larger Dragonfly variants and comparing them to equivalent existing aircraft.

Comparative graphs highlighted optimisation of emissions, energy use, and costs. Results showed hydrogen propulsion avoids operational emissions, but material and manufacturing impacts remain significant. 

Project by: 

• Lucy Musolino 
• Sarah Runnegar-Mullins 
• Rachel Yin 

The acceleration of global warming is attributable to the increased release of greenhouse gases. A chief offender of such being carbon dioxide, heavily produced by the iron industry. To combat this issue, policies have been implemented globally, driving green technology development. However, this technology is not yet well developed. In the mean time, carbon capture may be implemented to mitigate carbon dioxide emissions. The project aims to support decarbonisation in the Australian steel industry through tailoring carbon capture pathways. The work will explore the well-developed amine scrubbing, as well as the emerging membrane separation technologies. Project activities will include a technology analysis, mass and energy balances, simulated models, as well as a cost and life cycle analysis. Ultimately, handing over findings to the steel industry to pave the way for decarbonised iron production.

Project by: 

• Fiona Gregory 
• Alisha Hart 

Our project is about taking gases that come out of the ground and turning them into clean and useful products. Our aim is to produce hydrogen, a clean fuel that can help power the future without polluting the air, and collect helium as well, which is a rare gas used in entertainment, hospitals, and technology.

To do this, we imagined the gases moving through a special cleaning system, like a giant water filter, but for air. The system carefully separates the mixed gases so that hydrogen and helium can come out pure, while the other gases are removed. We built models on the computer to test how this process would work and to design the best setup.

In the end, our results showed that it is possible to create a system that produces clean hydrogen and captures helium at the same time, offering both energy and valuable resources.

Project by:

• Hassan Alali 
• Khalid Alharbi 
• Amjad Almubarak 

We’re working on something that could change how engineers manage foams in extreme conditions. Instead of spending time and resources running lab tests to see how foams behave under high-pressure, high-temperature conditions, we’re using machine learning (ML) to predict that behavior. Foams are a key part of how effective hydraulic fracturing can be in the field but testing them is costly and slow.

Our goal is to build smart models that forecast foam performance without the need for countless physical experiments. We’re focusing on the factors that matter most - temperature, pressure, and chemical makeup - and training models such as Random Forest and Neural Networks to make sense of the data.

The outcome will be a tool engineers can use in the field to make quicker, smarter decisions. It will save time, reduce costs, and support more sustainable practices in the energy industry.

Project by:

• Yousif Almumen 
• Rakan Alhindi 
• Ammar Almishari 
• Majdi Jaha 

Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) play a vital role in tasks such as environmental monitoring, defence and offshore exploration. However, one of their biggest limitations is battery life, once power runs out, they must be manually retrieved and recharged. This makes many long-duration or remote missions difficult and inefficient.

Our project sets out to explore a potential solution: harvesting wave energy to recharge AUVs at sea.

Our team of six has designed, built and tested a prototype “Wave-Powered AUV.” The vehicle can reorient itself in the water to capture energy from wave-induced heaving motion. Inside, it houses a wave energy generator, onboard power storage, sensors and a control system. The AUV’s shape, centre of mass, and centre of buoyancy has also been optimised to achieve stable and efficient performance.

The prototype demonstrates both the opportunities and challenges of applying wave energy to AUVs, and provides valuable insights into the feasibility of scaling this technology for future operations.

Project by:

• Aksat Sharma 
• Theodora Croitoru 
• Marisa Djukanovic 
• Ethan Nicholls 
• Delroy Paiva 
• Jaden Grupen 

The demand for iron ore is driven by the growing need for steel for infrastructure, manufacturing, and renewable energy, particularly high-grade magnetite or hematite iron ore necessary for low-carbon steelmaking. South Australia is remarkably well-endowed with minerals and natural resources, including three defined iron-ore provinces: Eyre Peninsula (Middleback Ranges), Mount Woods Inlier and Hawks Nest District, and the Braemar Ironstone. The Hawks Nest district consists of poorly understood Banded Iron Formation (BIF) hosted ores. Primary BIF’s themselves generally do not host high grade iron, however when enriched by supergene processes, can upgrade to percentages of >60% Fe. This project aims to characterise mineralogy and geochemistry of magnetite deposits within the Hawks Nest district, using reflected-light petrography and LA-ICP-ToF-MS raster mapping of trace-elements. This analysis will allow for better understanding of the genesis of these deposits and inform future exploration for high-grade iron ore, thus supporting the Australian mining sector.

Project by: Alex Thompson

South Australia is a world leader in renewable energy, with over 4 gigawatts of wind and solar capacity connected to the grid. This high share of renewables means the power system has less built-in stability. To support renewables, the federal government is funding a wave of energy storage, committing $200 million to deliver 400 community batteries. Individually, these units are small, under 5 megawatts, but together their rapid response to a disturbance could shake network stability. It is critical to understand and coordinate battery behaviour. In partnership with ElectraNet, SA’s transmission network operator, this project develops a dynamic model to represent sub-5-megawatt battery energy storage system (BESS) behaviour. Implemented in industry-standard simulation software and tuned to current technical requirements, this model enables realistic studies of cumulative BESS connections. This project supports secure, reliable grid operation in South Australia and beyond, helping ensure a cleaner energy future without compromising stability.

Project by:

• Glyn Ellis 
• Emily Hinze 
• Lara Keen 

Wastewater treatment is critical for protecting public health and the environment. Among the available strategies in wastewater treatment, advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) generate highly reactive species capable of breaking down pollutants. Recently, high-entropy oxides (HEOs) have emerged as promising catalysts for AOPs. However, even HEOs face the central challenge in catalysis: the activity-stability trade-off. The irony is that catalysts designed to be highly active – excellent at degrading pollutants – can themselves degrade quickly, releasing metals into water and worsening the pollution problem. This project aims to strike the right balance between activity and stability by varying HEO synthesis parameters. The prepared HEOs will be evaluated using cyclic degradation experiments to assess long-term performance. Additionally, chemical probes will be used to identify the key reactive species and provide mechanistic insight into pollutant degradation. Ultimately, this project will help us design more effective and durable catalysts for wastewater treatment.

Project by: Emmanuella Baran

The Australian electricity grid is rapidly shifting towards renewable energy, which poses new challenges for maintaining grid stability. Traditionally, synchronous generators, which are mostly driven by fossil fuels have helped balance the power system, but as more renewable energy is integrated, it is becoming paramount to explore alternatives that can replace the beneficial characteristics of synchronous generators. This project investigates how grid-forming inverters (GFMIs) could play a key role in keeping the grid stable and reliable with very few synchronous machines. While grid-following inverters (GFLIs) are predominantly employed in the current grid system, they are unable to operate without the system strength and inertial support provided by synchronous machines or that might potentially be provided by GFMIs. The project will implement simulation models of GFMIs, which will be used to explore technical challenges and viability of integrating GFMIs into large grids to contribute to Australia's transition to 100% renewable energy.

Project by: Gyuri (Taylor) Kim

As the world continues to face the growing climate crisis the pursuit of renewable energy sources is becoming increasingly urgent. Hydrogen gas has the potential to be a groundbreaking fuel source with high energy density and wide availability. While the use of hydrogen as a fuel source can reduce carbon emissions, the current carbon-based production method of steam-reforming is not environmentally friendly. An alternative method to produce hydrogen is through the harnessing of osmotic power (blue energy) to provide electrical power to drive hydrogen generation through water-splitting. This energy source relies on the Gibb’s free energy produced in the mixing of two sources of water of varying salinities separated by a nanoporous membrane that allows the flow of ions to move between the two solutions, creating an ionic current. This untapped carbon emission free energy source of blue energy has the potential to produce large amounts of renewable hydrogen.

Project by: Clodagh Goggin

With increasing demand for the critical metals needed in renewable energy technologies, the study of platinum group elements (PGEs) has never been more important. These metals are vital for the clean energy transition, used in catalytic converters, hydrogen fuel cells, and advanced electronics. The Nebo-Babel layered intrusion is located in the Musgrave Province of Central Australia and is one of the country’s largest Ni-Cu-PGE deposits. In the past, the bulk geochemistry of the deposit has been examined, with less known about the finer-scale mineralogy and where PGEs are hosted. This project aims to characterise PGE occurrence within the ore, whether that be locked inside sulphide minerals or within exotic minerals. To achieve this, optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used on drill core samples. Understanding how PGEs are hosted will help to refine ore genesis models and identify new potential exploration targets in the Musgrave.

Project by: Michael Fakes

With the growing dominance of large language models (LLMs) in content generation and summarization, these advanced AI systems are progressively displacing traditional search engines. A critical challenge for LLM commercialization lies in effectively transitioning advertising bidding mechanisms from conventional search models to LLM ecosystems, particularly in multi-advertiser competition and collaboration scenarios. This project aims to establish a theoretical framework for developing novel intelligent bidding strategies that enable LLM-generated responses to equitably accommodate the commercial interests of multiple advertisers while maintaining content neutrality.

Project by: Ziyu He

Beach Energy transports natural gas from offshore wells to onshore facilities through a 147-kilometre subsea pipeline. This energy is vital for powering homes, businesses, and industries. Due the large volume of the pipeline, it can act as a hidden storage of gas which if monitored effectively, can be used to help ensure a reliable supply. This project develops a model to measure how much gas can be stored under varying pressure, temperature, and flow conditions. By simulating these factors, the model estimates the volume of gas that can be used as a safety buffer against sudden swings in demand and unexpected events. The outcome ensures a reliable supply of natural gas and supports operational decision making.

Project by: Jessenia Bursill

Prior to combustion and electric engines, steam engines were employed to convert potential energy stored as high-pressure air to mechanical energy used for transport. And under the influence of the United Nations Paris Agreement, countries across the world have begun aiming for a net-zero future through alternative fuel sources. The alternative of compressed air will allow for practical use in a broad range of applications including mining operations or medical examination rooms. This project aims to investigate the compressed air as a viable alternative when used to power 3D printed engine designs. Through the design, development and testing fo these engines we aim to answer the question, Is compressed air a viable resource for engines?

Project by: 

• Jacob Dorn
• Josh Gomez

Geotechnical roof stability is crucial in underground mining environments, and cable bolts are a common support method employed to achieve this. Traditionally, cable bolts have been installed using ‘grout’, a mortar-like paste that binds the cable to the rock mass, providing compression to fractured ground; however, this process can take up to 48 hours to fully cure.  Thixotropic resin has the benefit of reducing this time to mere minutes, leading to improved productivity. This project has investigated the strength properties of thixotropic resin and established a quality assurance and quality control system for its installation with cable bolts in underground mining environments. This was achieved through a series of laboratory and onsite tests conducted at the University of Adelaide and Hillgrove Resources’ Kanmantoo Copper Mine.

Keywords: cable bolt, thixotropic, resin, grout, mining, underground, geotechnical, support, curing, pull-out test, UCS, triaxial, uniaxial, encapsulation, QAQC, safety.

Project by: 

• Nick Wollaston 
• Shiyi Chu 
• Jack Locke 
• Josh Saward 

The steel industry accounts for 8% of global CO2 emissions. Reducing the CO2 cost of steel production is essential for meeting net zero emissions goals. Alternative steelmaking processes involving reduction of iron ores present a significantly lower carbon cost as it can be performed using sustainably produced hydrogen. However, the reduced iron needs to be compacted in order to be stored or transported to a furnace for smelting. To deal with this, the iron is compacted using high pressure to encourage the iron to stay in shape as a briquette. This process is usually performed at high temperature, but there is interest in evaluating the feasibility of low temperature briquetting to better understand the forces which bind the iron together.

This project explores how the size of the iron particles, the force used to compress the iron, and the presence of a binder affects the strength of the resulting briquette when compacted at low temperatures and the viability of cold briquetting.

Project by: 

• Flynn Bohonis 
• Emma Jenke 

Extensive research and development has focused on the use of photocatalysis for the splitting of water into hydrogen and oxygen. Energy from the absorption of light by a photocatalyst is used to split water into hydrogen and oxygen.

Although the electronics of this process is well established, the kinetic and mechanistic nature of photocatalytic water splitting reaction is not well understood. This project involves the activation of a photocatalyst with a pulsed LED, followed by the laser ionisation of gaseous products to determine the rate at which the reaction takes place. Gaseous products will be ionised via “Resonance Enhanced Multi Photon Ionisation”, which can also be used to determine the quantum states of the products.

The goal of this project is to aid in the advancement of this ongoing experiment to determine the kinetics of photocatalytic oxygen and hydrogen evolution.

Project by: Ivan Avion

Hydrogen peroxide is a chemical used in everything from disinfectants and cleaning wipes to treating water. However, the industrial process to make it is energy-intensive and not environmentally friendly. This project explores a renewable energy approach by using two of the planet’s most abundant resources-sunlight and seawater. We are developing carbon nitride photocatalyst, a low cost, metal free material that absorbs visible light to drive this sustainable energy conversion process. The project aims to develop an efficient catalyst from seawater and sunlight to produce hydrogen peroxide in a clean way that reduces fossil fuel dependence and pressure on freshwater.

Project by: Shalu Kunwar

The production of green metals such as copper, steel and aluminium, is critical for sustainable development. Aluminium’s ability to be recycled repeatedly, makes it an irreplaceable material in the transportation, electrical and construction industry due to its lightweight and strong property. However, aluminium production process is energy intensive and the use of fossil fuel in the process contributes to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Therefore, identifying a sustainable alternative is required to ensure a decarbonised production process beginning with alumina production stage. This project aims to evaluate the feasibility of using Mallee Eucalyptus derived biochar slurry as a renewable fuel alternative for alumina calcination, starting from the alumina production stage. The project provides a comprehensive evaluation of feedstock availability, supply chain logistics, technical integration, and economic feasibility of how biochar slurry could support a cleaner and more sustainable aluminium production, contributing to Australia’s 2050 net-zero target, thereby promoting green aluminium production.

Project by: Yvette Wen Ewe

Underground mining at George Fisher Mine uses staged blasting to extract ore. However, existing wired detonator system require miners to return to unstable blast areas after each firing to manually set up the next round of explosives. This creates significant safety risks, particularly in uphole blasting where workers must operate directly beneath fractured rock. The need for re-entry also constrains blast designs and reduces efficiency as firing sequences must prioritise safe access over optimal ore extraction.

To address these limitations, Orica's WebGen wireless detonator system uses magnetic induction to transmit firing signals, allowing entire blast rings to be pre-charged and fired remotely. This project assesses whether WebGen is suitable for broader implementation at George Fisher Mine by comparing trial data from WebGen versus conventional wired systems across four key metrics: safety improvements, blast performance, operational productivity, and cost-effectiveness. The outcomes will guide decision-making on wider wireless technology adoption at the mine.

Project by: Kiran Shankaran

The sun, wind, rivers, and underground heat already provide renewable energy for a cleaner, sustainable future. But the ocean's waves, one of the largest and most consistent power sources of them all, remain the last major renewable energy source yet to be harnessed on a large scale. Waves never stop rolling in, day or night, making them a uniquely powerful and reliable energy source.

The challenge is that waves come in all shapes and sizes, some are small and fast, others are big and slow. A Wave Energy Converter (WEC) is a device that turns wave motion into usable energy like electricity, but most only work well for one kind of wave. This project improves their effectiveness by using groups of WECs, called arrays, with each device tuned to capture different types of waves.

Working together, these devices can generate clean energy more efficiently and calm destructive waves before they reach the shore, offering both renewable power and long-term protection for vulnerable coastlines.

Project by: 

• Angus Russell 
• Robert Baranik 
• Samuel Homburg 
• Luke James 
• Noys Le Chenadec 
• Harry Russell 

With global greenhouse gas emissions on the rise and the demand for renewable sources of energy, creating fuel from harmful emissions is the perfect solution, and can be achieved with a little help from the sun. Turning greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide and methane into valuable synthetic gases that can be used to power cars, machines, or even planes, is something that has already been achieved but the existing processes are inefficient and energy-intensive. This project aims to use photocatalysis to harness solar energy to drive the chemical reactions in this process and create a sustainable and low-carbon solution to the problems confronting this method. The project will specifically look to develop semiconductor-based photocatalysts with tailored properties to enhance key reaction metrics. This has been undertaken using a combination of material synthesis, structural characterization (XRD, SEM) and mechanistic modelling. The results will provide a feasible pathway for greenhouse gas valorisation.

Project by: Michele Ottaviano  

What keeps a CO₂ plume in place? The tiny force at the line where carbon dioxide meets salty water. We are building a computer model that predicts that interfacial tension across real reservoir temperatures, pressures and salinities so carbon-capture plans rely on fewer assumptions.

To get there, we have assembled a carefully curated, ion-aware dataset with physics-guided inputs and are testing several modelling approaches against published correlations and benchmark cases. We also show which inputs contribute most to each estimate so the results make practical sense.

At Ingenuity we will preview the first working version: a practical tool that estimates CO₂–brine interfacial tension without new lab work. It will help engineers screen saline aquifers, assess injectivity and trapping, and tighten uncertainty in reservoir simulations. Clearer predictions today support safer, more sustainable energy projects for tomorrow.

Project by: 

• Ahad Kajani 
• Nguyen Dac Khoa Huynh 

Achieving net zero is now more important than ever to ensure the sustainability of our planet. Carbon capture is currently being used to remove CO2 from the atmosphere, but what happens to the captured CO2? Through reduction reactions, it is possible to convert CO2 into a range of useful products; however, commercialisation of CO2 conversion is limited due to slow reaction rates. A catalyst is a material that increases the rate of a reaction, without being consumed in the process. The project focuses on designing a catalyst to produce methanol from CO2, which may be used as a clean energy source. Computational chemistry was applied to analyse the effect of catalyst structure on performance. The catalyst was optimised by introducing a carbon nanotube support, improving the viability of CO2 conversion as a solution for reducing emissions while generating renewable energy.

Project by: Caitlin Huynh

We set out to build a pipeline that can write simple rules from examples. Our first test was CartPole, a balancing game: the computer sees numbers about the cart and pole, then chooses left or right. With Programming by Example, we fed many situation-action pairs. The helper (an LLM) wrote a tiny rule; we ran it, showed mistakes, and asked it to revise - repeating this try -> test -> fix loop with simple safety checks that keep rules clear. Results were good, showing the idea works. It learns from feedback, not from big, complex models.

Next, we reuse the same recipe for home energy. The helper becomes an EV-charging coach: every few minutes it checks battery level, electricity price, sunshine, and house limits, then chooses charge, hold, or discharge. In a simulator we test and refine the rule so it lowers bills without draining the car or breaking home limits.

Project by: Vishesh Purnananda

Aluminium is one of the most important metals in the world, however, creating it produces a very large amount of carbon dioxide (CO2 ), which heavily contributes to climate change. Australia is a very large producer of alumina which is the raw material for aluminium, our main goal is to find smarter ways to cut these CO2 emissions. Our project looks at two different carbon catching methods. The first method is known as amine scrubbing, this is a well know technology that washes the CO2 out of gases, however, amine scrubbing requires a very large amount of energy to run. The second method is known as membrane separation, this is a new method that works like a filter that only allows the CO2 pass through, however, this method is still new and in the testing phase. Using computer generated models, we tested how well each method could capture CO2  from alumina production. We also compared the costs and environmental impacts of the two methods. Our results will help the industry to decide which method is the most practical in bringing Australia's alumina industry closer to a cleaner future.

Project by: 

• Thanh Tram Bui
• Sehrin Hasan

The Hillside Project on the Yorke Peninsula is one of Australia’s largest undeveloped copper-gold projects. Mineralisation occurs as an iron-oxide-copper-gold system, with an overlying oxide ore body. Contained within the oxides is the mineral atacamite Cu₂Cl(OH)₃, which due to the presence of chlorine, presents problems for metallurgical processing. Consequently, the entire oxide ore body is currently uneconomical for copper extraction.

Distribution of atacamite in the oxide zone is poorly defined. Better definition of atacamite distribution may allow for separate stockpiling and ore processing.

This project uses advanced geochemical analysis (X-Ray Fluorescence) and micron-scale imaging (via Scanning Electron Microscope), to geochemically define the distribution of atacamite within the oxide orebody, and to understand how the atacamite was originally formed. This geochemical information will contribute to assessing the economic viability of extracting copper from atacamite in the oxide ore body.

Project by: Janay Will

In today's world, large-scale transport and power cannot be completely electrified, so combustion will remain invaluable into the foreseeable future despite its emissions that drive climate change. Fuels such as hydrogen and methanol are emerging as promising lower-emission alternatives. However, their widespread adoption is limited by existing combustion infrastructure. To design cleaner and more efficient systems, more needs to be known about the combustion of these fuels under pressurised conditions. The Confined-and-Pressurised Jet-in-Hot-Coflow (CP-JHC) burner is capable of studying high-pressure combustion. This project supports this work by relocating and recommissioning the specialised burner into a new laboratory equipped with advanced laser diagnostics. As part of commissioning, the burner was tested and fitted with flame monitoring systems, ensuring safe operation in line with Australian Standards for gas appliances. Through this work, the project lays the foundation for cleaner combustion research and supports the global push toward sustainable energy technologies.

Project by: 

• Millie Slade
• Mustafa Riaz
• Arnav Pradeep

The demand for clean energy is increasingly becoming important within the modern landscape. Although, intermittent renewable energies such as solar and wind are currently utilised sources of renewable energy their performance sus limited by weather conditions. TES ( Thermal Energy Storage), such as sand batteries, are cost effective infrastructures which have high energy availability. Sand has emerged as a high potential material for TES due to their high thermal resistance and lost cost. However sand has low thermal conductivity and poor heat transfer which can inhibit performance of the system. To combat this, graphene has high thermal conductivity which when coating sand enhances performance within TES. Thus, testing graphene coated sand and uncoated sand to understand which material can represent a positive advancement for efficient renewable energy storage solutions.

Project by: Gauhar Bhullar

According to Climate Central, 1 in 5 people globally have been affected by temperatures influenced by the emission of CO2 into the atmosphere. One of the most promising solutions to this problem is capturing and storing it in deep underground aquifers. For this approach to be effective, the CO2 must remain safely contained for thousands of years. However, once injected into porous rock formations, CO2 can move and spread in complex ways, making it essential that long-term behaviour can be confidently predicted. This project developed an analytical model with solutions, to better understand how this migration occurs. The combination effect of gravity and capillary forces on the flow is investigated. By improving predictions of CO2 plume movement, the project supports safer and more reliable storage, helping ensure that CO2 capture and storage remains a dependable tool in mitigating the impacts of climate change now, and into the future.

Project by: 

• Alex Magarey 
• Oscar Collins 

What if we could turn today's pollution into tomorrow's fuel?

Carbon dioxide (CO₂) is seen as the “heat-trapping blanket” that warms the Earth, but it also has the potential to become an energy resource. Imagine capturing this gas from the air and converting it into everyday fuels. It would be a true “two birds with one stone” solution.

The difficult aspect is to find the best way to kick off the carbon-carbon coupling reaction, which links two carbon atoms to form a new molecules. To achieve this, an efficient catalyst - the essential tool in such reactions - is required to drive the reaction.

Our project focuses on designing graphene-based catalyst models, a 2D structure made of carbon atoms. We modify the graphene by "dual doping" with different elements and run simulation to predict the combinations. This research could bring us closer to creating fuels from CO₂ using effective catalysts.

Project by: Quyen Ngoc Le Phan 

Hidden leaks in city water pipes waste water and money. Our project asks a simple question: where should we place a small number of sensors so leaks are found quickly without covering every pipe? We build a digital twin of a town's water network and test sensors plans on it. We are going to use a smart planner to pick the fewest sensors that still can cover the whole network. In one setting, our plan needed 27 sensors to gaurd the town , improving on a published approach that used 33 sensors. The takeaway is a clear method that lets utilities choose the best trade-off between price and coverage.

Project by: Pranav Dikshith

Graphene is a super thin, strong, and conductive material that could change the way we make things like electronics, batteries, and medical devices. But there is a problem. Many products being sold as “graphene” are not the real deal. Instead, they are weaker copies that don’t work as well, which makes it harder for industries and scientists to trust and use this material. Our project set out to create a testing method to check whether the graphene sold on the market is genuine. We used a range of special tools (kind of like magnifying glasses, heat tests, and light scanners) to carefully examine samples from different sellers. By doing this, we can figure out which ones were true graphene, and which ones were fake or low quality. Our work helps people use a fast and reliable method to spot real or fake graphene to avoid buyer’s remorse.

Project by: Dylan Ridley

As the world shifts away from fossil fuels, Australia has a unique opportunity to use its natural resources to support clean energy. Iron ore is one of Australia’s largest exports, worth $116 billion in 2024–25, with key partners including China, Japan, and India. This project explores Hydrogen Direct Reduced Iron (H-DRI) and how our Co-FeRe technique can add value by turning it into a carbon-neutral energy carrier. Co-FeRe enables the export of renewable energy to Singapore alongside iron exports to other regions. Iron ore is first reduced into DRI using green hydrogen, which can then be processed further for extracting renewable energy. We investigated this pathway through literature review, assessment of hydrogen-based reduction, and analysis of international markets. The outcome is a roadmap highlighting the technical, economic, and logistical opportunities and challenges of Co-FeRe, showing its potential as a practical, low-carbon export strategy for Australia.

Project by: 

• Armaan Bhatti
• Jasmine Kaur
• Navya Mathur
• Sophie Wheaton

Every train carries significant mass, and as it slows or interacts with track systems, large amounts of mechanical energy is dissipated without recovery. This project investigates how such wasted energy can be harvested from railway retarders and converted into useful electrical power.

A prototype system was developed in which the downward force of the train wheel deflects a spring-loaded Dowty retarder. The displacement drives an external motor through a rack-and-pinion system, inducing a voltage in accordance with Faraday’s law of electromagnetic induction. The design incorporates mechanical reset through the spring, ensuring continuous operation as trains pass.

The system was analysed through modelling, experimental measurement, and hardware testing. Key parameters such as displacement, induced voltage, and effective load matching were evaluated to determine energy and power output. Outcomes demonstrate that railway retarders can function as energy harvesters, with potential application in powering low-demand trackside systems such as lights, sensors, and signalling equipment.

Project by: 

• Dev Patel 
• Thomas Tam 
• Armando Daniel Ramirez Torres 
• Jake Herrmann 

The World Solar Challenge sees teams from across the globe race from Darwin to Adelaide using the Sun's energy. The Adelaide University Solar Race Team require a tool to aid in their development of strategies and future vehicles for the event. The objective of the project was to create a model to estimate the performance of the car in the race, considering factors such as aerodynamics at varying speeds and the effects of wind cooling on solar panel power output. Individual system models were combined with geographical data and validated against real-world results from previous event entries. This process allowed the model to be refined and the impact of different variables on performance to be explored. The final product simulates an approximation of the complete race, enabling users to adjust car and environmental parameters and view corresponding performance metrics.

Project by: 

• Lucas Schiller 
• Nathan Yin Kee Ti 

Hydrogen is important for Australia's clean energy future, but how close can it be stored to homes, roads, or ports? This project investigates the risks of using hydrogen in cities, where its flammable and rapidly spreading characteristics make safety a major concern.

Australia adheres to global safety standards, but these do not always account for regional differences in climate and infrastructure. This project uses HyRAM+, a risk simulation tool developed in the US, to examine hydrogen's risks, for example explosion, jet flame, and dispersion scenarios to determine how far apart things should be. The software's assumptions about leak rate and frequency, as well as fixed harm thresholds, are carefully examined and adjusted where possible.

The project discovered the simulation's inputs, investigated Australia's environmental factors, and identified gaps in local standards. The final results should provide practical, evidence-based safety advice tailored to the use of hydrogen in Australia.

Project by: John Lei

Underground hydrogen storage (UHS) is a key solution for balancing renewable energy supply and demand. But storing hydrogen underground is not risk-free. Naturally occurring microbes and geochemical reactions can consume hydrogen, degrade its quality, and damage storage infrastructure. Our project investigates these risks across three common storage sites: salt caverns, depleted reservoirs, and deep saline aquifers. We are combining laboratory experiments, using highly sensitive ICP-OES testing, with advanced geochemical modelling to track elemental changes and simulate microbial reactions. These results will help identify the safest and most efficient formations for hydrogen storage. By the end of the project, we aim to provide a reliable tool to predict hydrogen loss and by-product formation, guiding safer site selection and better monitoring strategies for a clean energy future.

The country faces a looming waste challenge as panels reach their end-of-life, typically around 25 years, with an estimated 1.1 M tonnes of cumulative photovoltaic waste predicted to be generated by 2035 in Australia. Despite being degraded, these panels still contain valuable materials such as silver. Conventional silver recovery methods often rely on toxic chemicals, posing significant environmental risks. This project proposes a sustainable alternative using pyroligneous acid—a naturally derived organic acid produced from biomass pyrolysis. Pyroligneous acid contains a complex mixture of organic compounds with leaching capabilities demonstrated in other applications. The study will evaluate the effectiveness of this acid in extracting silver from waste solar panels through controlled laboratory experiments and will compare recovery efficiency against conventional leaching agents. The project aims to advance green chemistry approaches in solar panel recycling, reduce chemical waste, and contribute to circular economy solutions for Australia's growing solar waste problem.

Project by: Riley Konecny

Electrowinning copper recovery plants face a recurring challenge: the formation of sharp, needle-like copper deposits that reduce metal recovery, increase power consumption, and create safety hazards. Recent trials revealed that filtering the electrolyte with diatomaceous earth can prevent this dendritic copper growth, suggesting a hidden contaminant as the culprit. This project seeks to identify this contaminant by analysing its composition, structure, and size, before testing a range of physical and chemical methods to remove it. By uncovering the cause of this long-standing issue, the project aims to make copper recovery safer, more efficient, and more reliable.

Project by: 

• Jessica Chew 
• Baxter Nickolai 

Burning fossil fuels for energy is causing serious harm to our environment, including global warming. To address this, we need cleaner alternatives. One promising option is green hydrogen, made by using renewable energy (like solar or wind power) to split water into oxygen and a hydrogen fuel source. This process produces no harmful emissions, but it’s still too expensive and inefficient for widespread use. Our project explored how to make green hydrogen production more efficient by using metal catalysts, which speed up the water-splitting reaction. We tested different types, ratios, and concentrations of these catalysts to find combinations that optimised performance. We also examined how these changes could work in a real system. In the end, we identified specific catalyst mixtures that helped produce more hydrogen using less energy. This could make green hydrogen a more practical and affordable energy source—bringing us closer to a cleaner, more sustainable future. 

Project by: 

• Lotte van Malland
• Shamilla Dhillon

Rare earth elements (REEs) are important materials used in technologies like smartphones, electric cars, and wind turbines. Obtaining these elements is challenging and usually involves environmentally harmful processes. This project investigates how REEs can be extracted from clay-rich soils, an underused source.

In the laboratory, clay samples were treated with acidic solutions to leach out the rare earth elements. Different conditions were tested to determine which methods recover REEs most effectively.

Project by: Giang Nguyen

Rare earth elements (REEs) such as neodymium, europium and dysprosium are crucial to modern technologies from powering smartphones and wind turbines to electric vehicles. Current methods of REE recovery are expensive, inefficient and harmful to the environment. This project studies new approach to REE recovery which harnesses biomolecules to selectively capture and recycle these critical elements.

The focus is on understanding the molecular mechanisms of binding and studying these processes on a lab-scale. Experiments look at factors such as pH and temperature and investigate how these conditions affect recovery efficiency. The reusability of the biomolecules is also studied by running multiple binding and release cycles and tracking how performance changed over time.

By comparing different biomolecules and optimising conditions, we can discover the most effective method for recovery. This research provides a basis for the upscaling of this technology to deliver a sustainable future for the processing of rare earths.

Project by:

• Willem van de Velde 
• Joseph Mcnamara 

With increasing pressure to reduce carbon emissions and switch to renewables, solar cells are a vital tool for a sustainable energy future. However, traditional solar cells are restricted to a maximum efficiency of 33% due to the loss of light energy as heat. This could be improved through singlet fission, a process in which light energy is split into two smaller ‘packets’ of lower energy, but separating these packets to make a functional device remains a challenge. One proposed solution is to use two materials with different energy levels to help drive the separation of energy packets. This project focuses on using computer simulations to model the processes that occur in these materials, enabling predictions about the speed of various processes in different materials. By finding what parameters will be successful in achieving energy separation, this research aims to guide experimental design.

Project by: Jake Noble

My project is about keeping wells strong and safe when they are used for hydrogen and helium. These gases are very light and can escape if the wells are not sealed properly. The aim of the project is to study the well integrity of the Ramsay hydrogen and helium wells, which means making sure the wells do not crack or leak. To do this, we tested cement samples, since cement is the key material used to support and seal wells. We prepared cement blocks and added different materials, such as hollow glass and rubber, to see if they could make the cement stronger. We then measured their performance by carrying out compression strength tests, which check how much pressure the cement can withstand before breaking. The outcome showed that adding hollow glass and rubber improved the cement's strength, making it tougher and more reliable for building safer wells.

Project by:

• Ali Mohammed Alsalman 
• Mojtba Abdullah Bo Bashait 
• Ibrahim Ahmed A Alradhi 

Steel production is a major contributor to global carbon emissions, largely because it relies on fossil fuels to meet high-temperature energy demands. Repowering production with renewable energy is essential for achieving net zero - but how can we supply constant, intense energy from intermittent renewable sources? Australia, with its vast iron ore and renewable resources, is poised to tackle this challenge and lead in ‘green’ steel production. This project explores using concentrated solar power (CSP)—which uses mirrors that focus sunlight to generate intense heat—combined with thermal energy storage (TES) to store that heat and provide continuous energy for steelmaking. We developed and refined CSP and TES models, then integrated them into an energy transfer simulation of a steelworks in Whyalla, South Australia. This allowed us to evaluate technical and economic performance, and then compare with alternative energy options to identify optimal approaches for future Australian green steel projects.

Project by:

• Catelyn Turner 
• Kenny Luong 
• Alex Cursaru 
• Zane Syed  

This project focuses on the design and construction of a laboratory-scale reaction vessel for the pyrolysis of natural gas, with the aim of producing hydrogen and solid carbon. Methane pyrolysis presents a promising pathway for low-emission hydrogen production, as it avoids the release of carbon dioxide by separating carbon in its solid form. A molten salt catalyst, primarily sodium chloride, is employed to enhance the reaction by improving heat transfer, stabilizing reaction conditions, and promoting efficient gas - solid interactions.

The vessel will be designed to withstand high temperatures, control gas flow, and vary the pressure to enable safe collection of the hydrogen and carbon products. The vessel will be fabricated and used to investigate and optimize reaction kinetics and carbon capture. The outcomes of this work will provide valuable insights into the practical challenges and design considerations of pyrolysis systems, contributing to the development of scalable, sustainable hydrogen technologies.

Project by: 

Alexander Ioanni 
Brandon Minuzza 
Ethan Crowe 

Plastic has been integrated into numerous aspects of modern life due to its lightweight nature, versatility, durability and low production cost. Since its mass production began in 1950s, the growth of global economies has closely aligned with increased in plastic use, with over 7800 million tons of plastic produced globally. However, most plastic products are non-degradable, which can cause major environmental issues. The up-cycling of plastic through development of solar-driven photocatalysis addressing this issue. It uses sunlight to drive chemical reactions that can break down or transform plastics into hydrogen fuels and other useful materials using a photocatalyst, a material that absorbs light and initiates a reaction without being consumed. This project focuses on the development of a solar-driven photocatalysis system for recycling plastic into renewable fuel. By understanding the mechanism of this approach, we will be able to up-cycle plastic waste to move towards a more sustainable economic incentive.

Project by: Duong Thuy Pham