COMPLETED

Industry partner: Sustainability Victoria (SV)

Sustainability Victoria (SV) supports Victorians to be more sustainable in their everyday life; in their homes, jobs, schools and communities and in the systems and infrastructure that support a thriving Victorian economy and lifestyle. Sustainability Victoria aims to improve the way Victoria manages its resources and helps its communities to take action on climate change. Sustainability Victoria provides expert advice and guidance about energy, materials and waste and conducts research that demonstrates what is possible and inspires people to make sustainable change above and beyond legal requirements.

Project aim:

The aim of the project is to develop a series of fact sheets about the financing options available for local businesses and not-for-profits organisations to invest in energy projects. The project is part of larger SV project which seeks to identify the barriers faced by Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and Not-For-Profit (NFPs) to invest in energy efficiency using available finance. One of the key findings from the research so far is that SMEs and NFPs typically do not have the knowledge of the finance options available to them for energy projects.

Project tasks:

Key project tasks include:

• Summarise the existing research on barriers to energy efficiency for SMEs.
• Identify existing and emerging financial options for energy projects available to businesses and NFPs in Victoria.
• Summarise existing information about financial options to a single page (per option) and provide enough high level detail for each heading of a prescribed fact sheet template.

NB: The target audience for the fact sheets will be SMEs and NFPs

Project deliverables:

• Summary of barriers that SMEs face in adopting energy efficiency into their businesses
• Draft fact sheets on all available financial options

Student selection:

• Key attributes include excellent written communication skills, independence, decision making, good interpersonal/verbal communication, organisational/planning prioritising/time management/ability to meet deadlines.
• Suitable for Business, Sustainable Systems and Sustainable Energy Engineering, Engineering Management students.

Photo: https://www.flickr.com/photos/telstar/2428941689/

Industry partner: Sustainability Victoria (SV)

Sustainability Victoria (SV) supports Victorians to be more sustainable in their everyday life; in their homes, jobs, schools and communities and in the systems and infrastructure that support a thriving Victorian economy and lifestyle. Sustainability Victoria aims to improve the way Victoria manages its resources and helps its communities to take action on climate change. Sustainability Victoria provides expert advice and guidance about energy, materials and waste and conducts research that demonstrates what is possible and inspires people to make sustainable change above and beyond legal requirements.

Project aim:

The aim of the project is to evaluate the trajectory for non-residential buildings to achieve net zero carbon by 2050 with a conservative technology scenario.

Project tasks:

Key project tasks include:

• Meta-analysis of industry and academic research on commercial sector greenhouse gas
• High level aggregated building stock model for current and future projections of commercial building stock
• Scenario models to highlight three key trajectories for the commercial buildings sector towards net zero carbon by 2050 and one scenario where the sector is a net contributor
• Calculating financial metrics including cost-benefit, simple payback, net present value (NPV) etc.

Project deliverables:

• Spreadsheet, or equivalent, of synthesised data
• Draft report of consolidated findings
• Presentation (powerpoint) of research project findings

Student selection:

• Key attributes include excellent written communication skills, independence, decision making, good interpersonal/verbal communication, organisational/planning prioritising/time management/ability to meet deadlines.
• Sustainable Systems and Sustainable Energy Engineering, Mathematics (analytical)

Photo: https://www.flickr.com/photos/telstar/2428941689/

Industry partner: Sustainability Victoria (SV)

Sustainability Victoria (SV) supports Victorians to be more sustainable in their everyday life; in their homes, jobs, schools and communities and in the systems and infrastructure that support a thriving Victorian economy and lifestyle. Sustainability Victoria aims to improve the way Victoria manages its resources and helps its communities to take action on climate change. Sustainability Victoria provides expert advice and guidance about energy, materials and waste and conducts research that demonstrates what is possible and inspires people to make sustainable change above and beyond legal requirements.

Project aim: 

The aim of the project is to measure and identify the impacts of commercial building retrofits in Victoria. Specifically, the project will focus on energy savings, greenhouse gas emissions and cost-benefits of retrofitting existing commercial buildings.

Project tasks: 

Key project tasks include:

• Consolidating energy efficiency data for up to 53 commercial building audits
• Identifying key energy efficiency initiatives and sorting them into meaningful groups
• Calculating financial metrics including cost-benefit, simple payback, NPV etc.
• Identify key trends in uptake rate of various initiative groups
• Comparing synthesised findings to industry and academic literature on commercial building retrofit

Project deliverables:

• Spreadsheet, or equivalent, of synthesised data in deidentified form
• Draft report of consolidated findings
• PowerPoint presentation of research project

Student selection:

• Key attributes include excellent written communication skills, analysis and research, accuracy and attention to detail, proficiency in a range of computing skills,  independence, decision making, good interpersonal/verbal communication, organisational/planning prioritising/time management/ability to meet deadlines.
• Suitable for Data Science, Mathematics (analytical) students.

Photo: https://www.flickr.com/photos/telstar/2428941689/

Industry partner: RMIT University Property Services Group

RMIT Property Services Group (PSG) is responsible for managing the University’s portfolio of properties, valued at $1 billion and encompassing 131 buildings across all of RMIT’s campuses and sites. The University’s land holding is 75.4 ha (186.3175 acres). Part of the Resources portfolio and based on the City campus, Property Services is responsible for operating, maintaining and enhancing all RMIT-owned buildings across RMIT’s onshore campuses (City, Bundoora and Brunswick). Property Services is focused on providing quality and sustainable built environments to support all of RMIT University’s activities.

Project aim:

To conduct a risk assessment on all RMIT’s infrastructure assets for life-cycle analysis. RMIT Property services Group (PSG) has an asset management system that is certified to ISO 55001; which is an international standard for asset management.  This system uses a consistent methodology for assessing, planning, maintaining and reporting on assets.  Specifically, this project aims to identify assets within RMIT’s portfolio that may be impacted by severve climate change events and make recommendations on how this infrastrucure may become more resilent.  The project may also encompass how the asset management system can incorporate thinking into decision making that will lessen the impacts of climate change (e.g. carbon reduction).  

Student selection:

• Key attributes include excellent written communication skills, independence, decision making, good interpersonal/verbal communication, organisational/planning prioritising/time management/ability to meet deadlines.
• Suitable for Environmental Science and Technology, Sustainable Systems and Sustainable Energy Engineering students.

Image: © RMIT University, 2018

Project title: Landscape Design Standard

Project aim: To develop a landscape design standard for all RMIT University outdoor spaces.  RMIT University’s Design Standards is a set of specifications that set out the minimum requirements for the design and construction of all RMIT facilities. The specification guidelines address key landscape design features that will help shape more resilient campuses. There is a gap for design of outdoor spaces at RMIT, and this project will provide guidance when designing and specifying any new or refurbished outdoor spaces.  

Industry partner: RMIT University Property Service Group

RMIT Property Services Group (PSG) is responsible for managing the University’s portfolio of properties, valued at $1 billion and encompassing 131 buildings across all of RMIT’s campuses and sites. The University’s land holding is 75.4 ha (186.3175 acres). Part of the Resources portfolio and based on the City campus, Property Services is responsible for operating, maintaining and enhancing all RMIT-owned buildings across RMIT’s onshore campuses (City, Bundoora and Brunswick). Property Services is focused on providing quality and sustainable built environments to support all of RMIT University’s activities.

Industry partner: City of Greater Bendigo (CoGB)

BACKGROUND:

The City of Greater Bendigo (CoGB) has installed a number of solar PV systems over recent years, and continues to approve the installation of solar systems on council owned buildings.

Most of the systems are on buildings that are owned and operated by the CoGB who pays for the electricity bills. However more local Committees of Management are enquiring about installation of solar systems for the buildings they manage on behalf of Council and a number of these sites have also had solar systems installed.

Much of this work have been undertaken in conjunction with the Bendigo Sustainability Group (BSG) who have a decade long history of solar bulk buy and promotional programs. The BSG has developed some good expertise in solar system specifications and have some techniques in place for monitoring some systems. However these are being monitored randomly and on an ad-hoc basis at present

AIM:

The aim of this project is to develop a standardized and reliable guideline for monitoring all solar systems on Council owned buildings. Consideration of the following items will also be incorporated into the guidelines:

• The steps and checking process requirements leading to the installation of a suitably accredited solar system;
• Ability to observe solar system operation and functionality;
• The ability for data capture and download;
• Integration with Powercor (MyEnergy portal) data and energy analysis options for individual facilities.

Establishment of the communication protocols will also be addressed in the guideline to enable efficient energy data monitoring capability. These protocols will need to be flexible to account for the variable IT communications status of the facilities. The following items will need to be addressed in establishing the guidelines:

• Investigation of the data communications capability of different inverter options and make recommendation of a range of selected inverters;
• Identification of on-site wi-fi capability and requirements for using this as an IT communications ‘gateway’;
• Integration with LoRa local area network;
• Where no wi-fi exists, explain what the process for data communications may be eg. a 3G dongle and how would that work;
• What other options for data monitoring eg. Powercor’s MyEnergy online Smart Meter data monitoring and what it means; Solar Analytics using 3G/4G network etc.

This project will interact with CoGB Building and Property Unit and IT staff as well as individual site managers to develop flexible decision support guidelines to enable the installation of solar systems across our broad ranging portfolio of varying buildings and a coordinated approach to monitoring the system to ensure it is operating effectively.

EXPECTED OUTCOMES:

The main outcome will be to enable identification of the CoGB solar system integrity ie. to ensure it is operating effectively, or to identify breakdowns in the system at the earliest possible time. Co-benefits will enable the building operators to identify the reduction in grid based electricity consumed and cost savings.

For the broader council this will enable a consolidated cost benefit analysis for council’s investment commitments over time.

Another outcome will be the increased ‘viewability’ of the data or on-site profiling of the data leading to greater public awareness and providing the backbone for a broader public education campaign.

DELIVERABLES:

The deliverables of the project include:

The project report shall be written up in a report with drawings and include the following sections:

• Background
• Assumptions
• Conceptual designs and drawings
• Guidelines development
• Recommendations

The project deliverables shall be written for a wide audience. It should be assumed the majority of the audience do not have an in-depth understanding of PV monitoring systems.

WORK METHOD:

It is expected that students shall visit the council sites and asses options for PV monitoring systems, consult with relevant council staff and experts, gather and track council data and facilitate ongoing discussion through meetings with stakeholders.  To assess the physical suitability of a site, the student will be required to visit sites (accompanied by Council personnel).

The key stakeholders are:

• City of Greater Bendigo staff (TBA, however will be a member of the Facilities Team).
• The Bendigo Sustainability Group (BSG)
• Other stakeholders TBA

KEY ATTRIBUTES:

Attributes required include:

• Research skills
• Design and CAD drawing skills
• Ability to imagine the future requirements
• Self-motivated.

STUDENT SELECTION:

2 electrical/communication engineering students

City of Greater Bendigo requires that it is an active participant in selection of a suitable students for this Industry Engagement.  This participation shall include Council staff reviewing the proposed student’s CV (and academic transcript to date) and may interview students.

Council would prefer to select a suitable group of students shortlisted by RMIT.

Project title: Enhancing Anaerobic Lagoon Performance Industry partner: Rivalea (Australia) Pty. Ltd. is a leading Australian agri-business supplying approximately 20% of the domestic fresh pork market. The company’s headquarters is located in Corowa, NSW and there are piggery operations in Corowa, Albury, Deniliquin, Bendigo and St Arnaud in western Victoria. Rivalea also has stock feed mills and meat processing facilities in Corowa and Laverton, Melbourne. Rivalea’s operations are energy intensive both in the milling of feed, rearing livestock and meat processing operations. The introduction of the Federal Government carbon abatement programs and large increases in energy prices in recent years has incentivized the company to build out its own energy generation plant using farm and plant resources. Rivalea recognizes that biogas generated in the waste water treatment lagoons is a potential source of energy in the operations of the farm and processing facilities.   Project aims:

1. Examine and study the efficiency and operation of anaerobic lagoons at the Huntly Piggery Site.
2. Characterise waste and mass balances for bio-energy production and energy recovery.
3. Analyse lagoon performance using existing data.
4. Explore opportunities to enhance lagoon performance, paying attention to mass balance, carbon, nitrogen, sludge management.
5. Simulate and model lagoon performance- energy mass balance modelling.

Project deliverable:

STUDENT SELECTION:

• 02 Environmental Engineering/Science students

Attributes required include:

• Ability to read and summarise research papers
• Strong analytical skills
• Logical thinker
• Excellent problem solving skills
• Good communication skills

 Skill Set:

• Environmental Engineering
• Microbiology
• Data Analysis Mathematics and Analytics

Industry partner:

Rivalea (Australia) Pty. Ltd. is a leading Australian agri-business supplying approximately 20% of the domestic fresh pork market. The company headquarters is located in Corowa, NSW and there are piggery operations in Corowa, Albury, Deniliquin, Bendigo and St Arnaud in Western Victoria. Rivalea also has stock feed mills and meat processing facilities in Corowa and Laverton, Melbourne. Rivalea’s operations are energy intensive both in the milling of feed, rearing livestock and meat processing operations. The introduction of the Federal Government carbon abatement programs and large increases in energy prices in recent years has incentivized the company to build its own energy generation plant using farm and plant resources. Rivalea recognizes that biogas generated in the waste water treatment lagoons is a potential source of energy in the operations of the farm and processing facilities.

Project aims:

1. To investigate piggery waste and measure lagoon biogas volumes, for Rivalea piggeries in Corowa NSW and Huntly Vic, using historical data.
2. To review waste water treatment processes and assess the potential energy created by production of methane gas and greenhouse gas balance using historical data (2012-2018) such as flow rate, BOD, COD, VFA, pH EC, total solids, rate of conversion of sludge to biogas, rate of replication of biogas bacteria, efficiency of biological processes.

The report generated from this study will make recommendations for:

• A business case to capture biogas and generate electricity at the Huntly piggery.
• Improving greenhouse gas emissions to facilitate a sustainable development of energy supply.
• Biogas data fluxes measured over a period of 6-12 months from a 41 ML anaerobic lagoon that received waste from a  head swine finishing operation.
• Feed type, quality and quantity and animal weights and gains to determine the carbon budget of the facility.
• The influence of temperature on biogas production – summer vs winter biogas production data.

Project deliverables:

Student Selection:

• Environmental engineering/sustainable system students
• Chemical engineering students
• Mathematics analytic/data science students.

Project title: Activated Carbon Filter- Operation Efficiency and Cost Savings

Industry partner: Rivalea (Australia) Pty. Ltd. is a leading Australian agri-business supplying approximately 20% of the domestic fresh pork market. The company is headquarters is located in Corowa, NSW and there are piggery operations in Corowa, Albury, Deniliquin, Bendigo and St Arnaud in western Victoria. Rivalea also has stock feed mills and meat processing facilities in Corowa and Laverton, Melbourne. Rivalea’s operations are energy intensive both in the milling of feed, rearing livestock and meat processing operations. The introduction of the Federal Government carbon abatement programs and large increases in energy prices in recent years has incentivized the company to build out its own energy generation plant using farm and plant resources. Rivalea recognizes that biogas generated in the waste water treatment lagoons is a potential source of energy in the operations of the farm and processing facilities.

Project aims:

1. Identify the chemical and biological mechansims causing the reduction in sulphides from micro-air injection.
2. Identify the optimum percentage mixture of oxygen in biogas to facilitate sulphide removal.
3. Recommend control parameters of mising rations of air to biogas in a covered anaerobic lagoon including safety considerations.

Project deliverables:

Students:

• 02 engineering students (environmental/sustainable systems/engineering management)

IMAGE:https://www.flickr.com/photos/gtzecosan/6593868183/