Research in Energy Studies

The Energy Studies Program carries out research in its major areas of strength. All academic staff are active in research and there is also strong technical support. Postgraduate training is an important aspect of research and Murdoch currently has many students carrying out research for their MPhil or PhD degrees.

• Photovoltaics
• Power conditioning / system optimisation
• Wind power
• Renewable energy education and training
• Remote Area Power Supply (RAPS)
• Renewable energy policy
• Batteries and fuel cells
• Alternative Transport Fuels

Photovoltaics Research

[Prof. P. Jennings, Dr J. Cornish]

Research into photovoltaics material includes:

• The preparation of high-quality thin films of amorphous silicon for fabrication into solar cells.
• The optimisation of the performance of pin solar cells based on amorphous silicon alloys.
• The use of a combination of experimental and theoretical techniques to study the structure and bonding in amorphous silicon and to understand the process of photo-degradation in amorphous silicon alloys.
• The utilisation of this knowledge to optimise the performance of thin film amorphous silicon solar cells and to limit their photo-degradation.
• The preparation of optimised devices which are suitable for large-scale production.
• The production of solar cells using silicon nanowires.