Who we are

The Priority Research Centre for Energy (or PRCfE), established by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) in late August 2006, brings together academics at the University of Newcastle who have research interests in the abatement of greenhouse gases, and in clean and sustainable energy production. We are experimentalists, theoreticians and modellers, as well as process developers who have skills in commercialising laboratory and pilot-proven technologies. This mix of skills equips PRCfE to take an idea from its bench or theoretical beginnings all the way up to and including commercialisation. We are focused on the development, implementation and commercialisation of technologies directed toward a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and the implementation of clean and sustainable technologies for energy production.

The PRCfE aims to provide new opportunities flowing from the interaction between industry, government agencies and university researchers interested in the growing field of clean and sustainable energy production.

Among us are fellows of the Australian Academy of Sciences (Prof Antonia) and Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (Profs Dlugogorski, Page and Wall), and recipients of prestigious national and international awards. We all publish extensively and regularly in relevant, mainstream and top-ranked journals, and have a record of innovation. Among us is one of the most cited engineers in the world (Prof Antonia). Most of us possess extensive industry networks and draw substantial industry and targeted government support for our research. Most of us derive part of our research funding from the prestigious Discovery Project funding of the Australian Research Council.