Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

Energy Futures Zone brings Australia's clean energy innovations to life 

The Energy Futures Zone at UOW Science Space opened in November 2025, unveiling an immersive, hands-on exhibition that explores the technologies powering Australia's clean energy transformation.   

Featuring 29 interactive exhibits, the Energy Futures Zone invites visitors to gain hands-on experience with renewable energy and sustainable manufacturing innovations, showcasing how science and technology are shaping a cleaner, smarter future. By making complex energy systems tangible, interactive and accessible, the Energy Futures Zone allows people to connect with world-leading energy research while strengthening public awareness of climate action and clean energy.  

UOW Vice-Chancellor and President Professor G.Q. Max Lu AO said the exhibition builds on more than 35 years of Science Space inspiring young people's curiosity in STEM. 

‘The Energy Futures Zone is where research meets real-world impact, celebrating local achievement and inspiring the next generation to pursue STEM skills and energy careers critical to our clean energy transition,’ Professor Lu said. 

Since opening, the Energy Futures Zone has welcomed more than 30,000 visitors, engaging families, school groups, students and lifelong learners from across the Illawarra and beyond. Developed through collaboration with researchers, industry partners and government, the initiative exemplifies UOW Science Space’s role as a bridge between university research and community impact, supporting accessible science education while helping build future workforce capability for clean energy industries. 

This initiative is supporting:

• Goal 4: Quality Education
• Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
• Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
• Goal 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
• Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
• Goal 13: Climate Action
• Goal 17: Partnerships for the Goals

Community batteries power UOW research and sustainability

Throughout 2025, work continued on an innovative project to help organisations install batteries that benefit the community while unlocking potential income streams – with UOW becoming an early adopter. 

The project, which received funding from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) and was coordinated in partnership with Momentum Energy, saw 10 community batteries installed across the UOW Wollongong and Innovation campuses. 

The batteries help power research laboratories, medical research and teaching facilities, while reducing electricity costs and allowing excess solar PV or grid energy to be stored and sold into the National Electricity Market when needed. 

With work completed in 2026, the university aims to inspire businesses and households in the Illawarra to embrace the benefits of clean energy transformation by demonstrating the feasibility and value of these technologies firsthand. 

This initiative is supporting:

• Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
• Goal 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
• Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

Renewable energy powers campus microgrid innovation

In 2024, UOW accelerated its transition to renewable energy by installing an onsite solar photovoltaic system at the Innovation Campus. The solar PV systems, which are now operational across the UOW Wollongong, Innovation and Southern Highlands campuses, are designed to maximise local consumption of solar energy to reduce reliance on grid electricity and cut greenhouse gas emissions.  

Additionally, UOW was successfully awarded a $2.5 million Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) battery grant to fund the installation of 10 medium-scale batteries. The batteries will have a combined capacity of 2.2MW / 5.42MWh, with work scheduled to commence in 2025.

At the Wollongong campus, two 360kW super-fast EV charging stations were installed in 2024, as well as one 184kW EV charging station and one 22kW charging station, with support from the Drive Electric NSW Electric Vehicle fast charging grants (Round 2). This grant positions UOW as a crucial player in the state’s efforts to create an EV “super-highway” and boosts the region’s transition to zero-emission vehicles.  

A major milestone was the development of the Clean Energy Living Laboratory at the Innovation Campus, where a precinct-based microgrid enables real-time research on distributed electricity generation, storage, demand management and control technologies. Led by UOW’s Australian Power Quality Research Centre (APQRC), the project is set to be Australia's first mixed-use, precinct-based microgrid. The project has received $1.1 million from the NSW Government to drive the development of microgrid technology and help communities and precincts reduce their carbon footprint.

The University of Wollongong’s 2024 renewables commitment extended beyond infrastructure, with the University renewing its electricity contract in 2024 with the intent to deliver 75 per cent renewable energy, alongside a Virtual Energy Network to trade excess solar power between campus accounts. The University fleet continued transitioning to electric vehicles, and the new charging infrastructure was supported by a staff EV subscription partnership with Origin EV 360, lowering barriers to cleaner transport.

This initiative is supporting:

• Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

Net zero energy housing for social equity

Researchers at UOW's Sustainable Buildings Research Centre (SBRC) used standardised simulation methodology to evaluate how energy efficiency upgrades can transform social housing into net zero energy developments. The study assessed the impact of energy efficiency upgrades across multiple climate zones in NSW, focusing on practical, cost-effective measures to improve thermal comfort, reduce carbon emissions and reduce tenant energy costs.

It was demonstrated that energy efficiency upgrades for low rise unit complexes – particularly solar photovoltaic systems, insulation and appliance electrification – can significantly improve thermal comfort while reducing energy use, costs and carbon emissions. By demonstrating cost-effective upgrade strategies that deliver both environmental and social benefits, this research supports climate change adaptation and thermal comfort improvements for low-income households. The study's findings support a clear pathway for achieving net zero targets in social housing while simultaneously improving living conditions for vulnerable communities.

This initative is working towards:

• Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
• Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities
• Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
• Goal 13: Climate Action