$8 million for ANU renewable energy research

ANU will establish an international research program to improve ways to store renewable energy that can be integrated into the electricity grid under a new $8 million partnership with the ACT Government. The ACT Government and ANU will jointly invest the funds over five years for a new Battery Storage and Integration Research Program. ANU Vice-Chancellor Professor Brian Schmidt AC thanked the ACT Government for contributing up to $5 million to support the program, which would help to establish Australian research leadership in the integration of battery material technology with electricity network storage. "I want to congratulate the ACT Government on its commitment to renewable energy and innovative energy solutions," Professor Schmidt said. "The funding will enable the ANU Energy Change Institute (ECI), which will coordinate the research program, to build a critical mass of research in the area and focus on commercialisation of new technologies. "We'll now begin a worldwide search for a team leader in battery storage and integration to spearhead the research program. " The ECI comprises more than 200 staff and PhD students from all seven ANU colleges, and is supported with more than $100 million in infrastructure and facilities.