The University of Wollongong is committed to working towards the United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through its governance, teaching and learning, community engagement, partnerships and research. The following initiatives are by UOW staff and students working towards SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy.
Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
Operations
6%
reduction in total energy consumption
10%
reduction in greenhouse gas emissions since 2019
1.6MW
of solar energy PV installed on campuses
Teaching, learning and outreach
2,561
Students studying subjects about this goal
1,610
Media articles about this goal
1 billion
Articles appeared in media outlets with a combined potential audience reach of 1 billion
Research
80.3%
Publications with international collaboration
91.7%
of the international collaboration publications are with developing countries
7.7
Citations per publication (global average 3.8)
54.7%
Publications in top 10% journals (9.4% in the top 1%)
2022 figures used unless otherwise specified.
Energy and carbon reduction initiatives for UOW operations
The Carbon Management and Climate Adaption and Resilience Action Plan highlights actions to be completed to achieve our energy and carbon reduction targets. Energy efficient lighting upgrades, onsite solar PV installations and renewable energy procurement are some of the key initiatives.
Sustainable Building Research Centre
The Sustainable Building Research Centre (SBRC) is a haven for research and industry collaborations with the goal to make all buildings sustainable. The SBRC building itself has 6-Star Green Star certification and the building includes 468 solar panels to support net zero energy, an onsite rainwater system to enable net zero water performance, and use of environmentally safe and reused building materials. SBRC has achieved full marks under the Living Building Challenge and has set a new benchmark as arguably the most sustainable building in Australia. SBRC also provides short courses on energy efficiency, community information events, public exhibitions and conferences on improving residential energy efficiency. It hosted the National Forum on Low Carbon Housing for Low Income Households, bringing together representatives from the not-for-profit sector, community housing, government, industry, energy providers, researchers and tenant advocacy groups to unpack barriers to delivering housing that is both affordable and sustainable.
Institute for Superconducting and Electronic Materials
The Institute for Superconducting and Electronic Materials (ISEM) is a world-class collaborative team conducting research in superconducting and electronic materials science and technology. ISEM seeks to stimulate the technological and commercial development to advance technologies including batteries for electric vehicles and energy storage; applied superconductivity for electrical and medical devices; energy conversion and transmission; spintronic and electronic materials for applications; terahertz science; and nano structured materials.
Sodium-sulfur batteries
Researchers from the UOW have manufactured a nanomaterial that acts as a superior cathode for room-temperature sodium-sulfur batteries, making them a more attractive option for large-scale energy storage. Room-temperature sodium-sulfur batteries are an attractive proposition for next generation energy storage, which will be required to meet increasing energy demands. A superior room-temperature sodium-sulfur battery with high energy density and long cycling life would provide a low-cost and competitive technology for large-scale stationary storage, thus promoting the shift towards renewable energy.
Evaluation of fringe of grid
UOW researchers are working with our regional communities to examine the social, technical and economic possibilities and benefits of deploying alternative electricity supply technologies in fringe of grid applications.
Energy Efficient Art
This interdisciplinary research team has produced artworks that incorporate energy-efficient elements and slow textile methods to communicate the need to adopt effective sustainable energy strategies in gallery and museum contexts.
Solar Decathlon and Desert Rose
Team UOW Australia-Dubai was awarded second place in the Solar Decathlon Middle East competition in 2018. The team comprised of more than 40 students from UOW and TAFE NSW, who spent two years designing, prototyping and building. Their design caters for the needs of an ageing population, supporting people living with dementia and other age-related disabilities. Teams from 11 countries competed to create sustainable and accessible homes, with the added challenge of ensuring it functioned in desert temperatures. The house takes its name ‘Desert Rose’ from the flower that flourishes in challenging environments. Desert Rose is considered one of the world’s best examples of sustainability and design innovation.
Sustainability in STEM
This project is working alongside the Department of Education, Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) and a local pilot study school based on the potential to integrate the energy use and energy efficiency initiatives of the school as an asset, with sustainability as a cross-curriculum priority.
Subjects and courses for SDG 7
- SNUG307 - Capstone
- EESC331 - Changing Global Environments
- MIN1296 - Science and Technology Studies
- SCIE103 - Climate Change
Subject description
This subject is working towards:
All 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Faculty
Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health
Degrees
Bachelor of Nursing, Bachelor of Nursing (Conversion)
Subject description
This subject is working towards:
Faculty
Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health
Degrees
Bachelor of Environmental Science (Honours), Bachelor of Environmental Science (Honours) (Dean's Scholar), Bachelor of Marine Science, Bachelor of Marine Science (Honours) (Dean's Scholar), Bachelor of Science
Subject description
This subject is working towards:
Faculty
Faculty of the Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities
Subject description
This subject is working towards:
Faculty
Faculty of Science, Medicine and Health
Degrees
Bachelor of Conservation Biology (Honours), achelor of Conservation Biology (Honours) (Dean's Scholar)