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Electricity supply research centre opens
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11 October 2006
The Victorian Minister for Innovation, Mr John Brumby, has officially opened a new Monash research centre that will play a pivotal role in improving the operation of Australia's power transformers.
The Centre for Power Transformer Monitoring, Diagnostics and Life Management, at the university's Clayton campus, is a world first. Its research will help to establish a more reliable, cost-competitive, environmentally sensitive and safer electricity supply infrastructure for the nation.
The new centre has been funded with $4.4 million from government and industry sponsors. Its director is Dr Valery Davydov, a principal research fellow in the Department of Electrical and Computer Systems Engineering.
Mr Brumby said a $1.6 million Science, Technology and Innovation Infrastructure grant would enable the centre to investigate the use of renewable and biodegradable vegetable oils as a replacement for mineral oils in power transformers.
Researchers at the Clayton campus facility will also closely examine the insulation systems of high-voltage transformers and investigate new methods to extend their life.
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From left: Head of the Department of Electrical and Computer Systems Engineering, Professor David Morgan; Centre Director, Professor Valery Davydov; Monash Vice-Chancellor Professor Richard Larkins; Victorian Minister for Innovation, Mr John Brumby; Chairman of the centre's advisory board, Mr Steve Blanche; and Wilson Transformer Company Managing Director, Mr Robert Wilson.
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Mr Brumby said Australia's electricity supply industry represented about 1.5 per cent of the national economy, with more than eight million customers, and generating more than $13 billion in revenue each year.
"However, increasing demand, competitive and regulatory pressures and ageing transformers are placing more and more stress on this vital infrastructure," he said.
The centre will also feature a purpose-built transformer testing facility and a power transformer monitoring and diagnostics research laboratory, and look at ways to commercialise new products for local and overseas markets.
The centre's partners include the Wilson Transformer Company, Dynamic Ratings and TJ|H2b Analytical Services. Its power utility sponsors include Country Energy, Energex, Energy Australia, Ergon, Powercor/CitiPower, Powerlink, SP AusNet (Australia) and Transpower (New Zealand), with other sponsors and equipment suppliers including US and European companies, Factory Mutual Insurance Company (FM Global), Weidmann Company, Luxtron and Nynas.
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