Integral Energy invests $1 million into Power Quality Centre based at University of Wollongong

Aug 26, 2004

A long-term relationship between the University of Wollongong and Integral Energy reached another significant milestone today (26 August) when Integral Energy announced an investment of almost $1 million over three years into the Power Quality & Reliability Centre.

Professor Vic Gosbell, of the Faculty of Informatics, said the major investment promises to address the country's critical shortage of power engineers and, at the same time, provide valuable research funding to help ensure future power quality and reliability for electricity consumers.

At the special ceremony held today the Chief Executive Officer of Integral Energy, Mr Richard Powis, signed an agreement with the University's Vice-Chancellor, Professor Gerard Sutton, on behalf of UOW's Power Quality & Reliability Centre.

Integral Energy's investment extends for the three-year period 2005-2008 and represents the fourth such agreement reached between Integral Energy and the University. The nation's first Power Quality Centre was established in 1996 through an initial $400,000 Integral Energy grant.

The Power Quality Centre's objective is to work with industry to improve the quality and reliability of the electricity supply to industrial, commercial and domestic users. The Centre specialises in research into the control of distortion of the supply voltage, training in power quality issues at all levels, and specialised consultancy services for solution of power quality problems.

Professor Gosbell said internationally there was a desperate need also to produce more power engineers and the Integral investment would help produce some of the next generation of power engineers through UOW's Power Quality Centre.

Integral Energy CEO Richard Powis said the investment in the Centre made good business sense."Since 1996 we've invested more than one million dollars in the Centre. Through our support we're able to partner with a leading university in new ways to supply better service for our customers and improve the quality of supply they receive in their homes and businesses," Mr Powis said.

The Vice-Chancellor praised Integral, and particularly the vision of its CEO, Mr Richard Powis, for its ongoing commitment by making such a significant investment.

"This partnership is critical to the future needs of the electricity industry in Australia," Professor Sutton said.

For more information, contact:

media@uow.edu.au
University of Wollongong
Ph: (02) 4221 5942; fax (02) 4221 3128