Deakin Energy Networks

Research
Research partnerships
Deakin Energy Networks

Collaborating across sectors to power the future of sustainable energy

Deakin Energy Networks is an ecosystem of collaborators across industry, government, and research, who share a commitment to an innovative transition to sustainable energy.

The global economic and social prosperity is critically dependent on sourcing a just and rapid energy transition and Deakin Energy Networks is committed to finding solutions to a clean energy future by working with similarly committed key partners.

By partnering with Deakin Energy Networks, government and industry can access the University’s existing assets and talent base, engage with research, training, and commercialisation experts and build their capacity and capability to resolve technical, economic and social barriers in driving clean energy solutions, and at pace.

The focus of Deakin Energy Networks centres around four pillars:

Workforce development
Energy systems and Data
Manufacturing and Technology
The Human Element

Establishing an agile and multi-disciplined network will enable impactful research, training and commercialisation in each capability area.

Our research

Workforce Development

Deakin is developing multiple pathways through short stackable courses, professional development and micro-credentialing for accreditation. By combining continued excellence in teaching in partnerships with other training providers, Deakin seeks to become a leading provider of energy related talent.

Energy Systems and Data

Deakin has great strengths in engineering, information technology as well as through the Australian Artificial Intelligence Institute (A2I2) and has capability in virtual reality and the internet of things. The Faculty of Business and Law also has experience and exposure in the human experience of technology adoption.

The Human Element

Increasingly commentators are coming to understand that the main challenge to the energy transition is a “people problem”.

Technologies once considered alternative or non-mainstream have not only become common place and accepted but also are cheaper and more accessible for a whole range of energy users.

Deakin will build on previous projects and bring new multi-disciplinary perspectives. Deakin can provide insights, pathways and solutions to planning, social licencing, heritage assessments, behaviour change, consumer perceptions, cluster development and business and community benefit models for energy stakeholders.

Manufacturing and Technology

Australia is potentially on the cusp of a reinvigoration of the manufacturing sector with competitive advantages in the supply of cheap renewable energy combined with storage, access to alternative fuels (e.g. hydrogen), and advances in robotics, artificial intelligence and machine learning.

Through the Institute of Frontier Materials, ManuFutures and the REACH program Deakin has much to offer in terms of materials development and the enablement of the circular economy.

Reliable, affordable and clean energy is, and will remain, a key focus for investment, government policy, community sentiment and behaviour for decades to come.

Become part of the Deakin Energy Networks and be part of the solution.

Work with us

Deakin University has an impressive history of successful partnerships in research and development. Tap into Deakin’s combined capabilities from across our faculties, research institutes and centres and collaborate with world-leading researchers who are at the forefront of energy research, innovation and education.

Reach out today

Deakin Energy Networks will act as a central repository for relationships and intelligence and a gateway and enabler of connections between external stakeholders and Deakin's considerable energy capabilities and assets

Alfred Deakin Professor Julie Owens

Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research

Our industry leading experts

Through the Deakin Energy Networks, you can partner with world-leading researchers in your industry.

Alfred Deakin Professor Maria Forsyth

A world leader in energy storage and sustainable infrastructure – with 30+ years’ experience in partnering with leading organisations
Fellow Australian Academy of Sciences (FAA)
Director ARC Industrial Training Centre for Future Energy Storage Technologies (storEnergy)
Deputy Director Institute for Frontier Materials (IFM)
Associate Director ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science (ACES)
Winner of the Victorian Prize for Science and Innovation (VESKI) 2017
Inducted to the Victorian Honour Roll of Women 2020
An internationally recognised pioneer in designing new materials, understanding their behaviour and manufacturing next-generation energy storage

Email: Maria.forsyth@deakin.edu.au

Peter Hansford, Director Deakin Energy Networks

20 years’ experience in food and agribusiness and 12 years in cleantech and renewable industry
Extensive experience in business development across Asia - India through to Japan
Sustainable industry development experience across regional Australia
Has worked as a journalist, trade commissioner, and industry advocate
Expert in maximising exposure of local technologies and regional development opportunities
Experienced in community and business engagement, strategy, communications and project design and advocacy
Strategic leader in business and market development

Phone: 0417 050 939
Email: Peter.hansford@deakin.edu.au

Associate Professor Robert Kerr

More than a decade's experience in electrochemical energy technologies, for both industry and academia.
Develops new technologies for hydrogen fuel cells, electrolysers, and advanced batteries.
Leads industry projects in battery materials and cell prototyping at Australia’s premier battery prototyping facility, Deakin’s Battery Research and Innovation Hub.
Passionate about developing and innovating materials to solve the challenges facing new energy industries.
Working on ARC Linkage Grant to develop next-generation solid-state batteries to drive an automotive revolution, in collaboration with researchers from Toyota, Japan.
Member of $9.4m Cooperative Research Centre Project (CRC-P) for Advanced Hybrid Batteries

Mobile: 0434 582 094
Email: robert.kerr@deakin.edu.au

Associate Professor Joshua Newton

Nationally-regarded authority on consumer perceptions of renewable energy technologies, including distributed energy resources (DER) and green hydrogen
Associate Dean of Research for Deakin’s Faculty of Business and Law
Co-founder of the Better Consumption Lab, examining how to motivate sustainable consumption
Psychology and marketing researcher with a background in environmental science.
Generating consumer insights to support industry partners such as Mondo Energy, AusNet Services and Australian Energy Market Operator.
Published research in a range of outlets including European Journal of Marketing and Journal of Business Research.

Phone: +61 3 9251 7830
Email: j.newton@deakin.edu.au

Our energy initiatives

Nationally significant initiatives like the Battery Research and Innovation Hub and Hycel, in conjunction with microgrids can provide industry with greater control over their energy future.

The Battery Research and Innovation Hub

The Battery Research and Innovation Hub is a unique, world class, purpose-built, research and innovation centre for battery design and development, encompassing research, pilot-scale manufacturing and the commercialisation of energy storage technologies.

Learn more

Hycel

As one of Australia’s first facilities for safely testing, manufacturing, optimising and training in new hydrogen technologies, Hycel is focused on technologies that use hydrogen rather than processes that produce it.