January 7, 2014

UOW’s 20-year unmatched funding to train new generation of power engineering academics

The University of Wollongong (UOW) has announced it will receive almost $1 million funding from the electricity industry over the next three years which will improve power quality and reliability to households and businesses throughout New South Wales.

This funding for power engineering activities at UOW takes the University’s relationship with the electricity industry to an historic 20 years of continuous funding – unmatched by any other university in the country.

The centre has become recognised nationally and internationally for its expertise in the power industry – and specifically in the area of power quality.

Sarath Perera, the Technical Director of the newly named Australian Power Quality and Reliability Centre (APQRC) and an Associate Professor in UOW’s School of Electrical, Computer and Telecommunications Engineering said this long standing relationship has been providing extensive benefits to the electricity industry and its customers. Over the years, the centre has been working in close collaboration with the industry on how to operate their electricity networks within the capabilities from a power quality perspective.

As part of the latest agreement, funding will be used to continue to employ two full-time academics at the centre. It will also be used to supplement a scholarship aimed at encouraging high calibre electrical engineering students to undertake postgraduate studies and consider an academic career in the power engineering.

For further information contact Associate Professor Sarath Perera on (02) 4221 3405 or 0400 063 720.