Research and Development (continued)

Of the 201 Australian applications 17 were lodged by CSIRO and 14 by universities or State instrumentalities, but the overwhelming majority were by companies or individuals. Although initially CSIRO was not patenting its developments in solar heating technology, it was widely distributing its publications and its researchers were closely in touch with their industrial colleagues. The Australian impact on the world's technology in this field was clearly significant.

An important factor in the transfer of R&D from CSIRO and the universities to industry, has been the establishment of the National Energy Research Development and Demonstration Council in the late 1970s. NERDDC funds have been deliberately channelled to co-operative developments between Universities and industry and to individual companies. This has helped to promote a healthy level of R&D among manufacturers in Australia.

The development of the anti-freeze heat transfer system by Solahart, Beasley's novel thermosiphon flow system, and the joint development of more efficient photovoltaic cells by the University of New South Wales and BP Solar, have all been supported by NERDDC. Rheem is co-operating closely with the University of Sydney, using funds provided by NERDDC and the Energy Authority of New South Wales in an attempt to develop the University's pioneering work on evacuated tubular collectors. The Solar Energy Research Institute of Western Australia, the Victorian Solar Energy Research Committee and its successor the Victorian Solar Energy Council as well as the State Energy Authorities of New South Wales and South Australia have all supported research, development and demonstration projects in their States.

One of the largest individual research groups currently (1986) working on solar energy in Australia is at the University of Sydney. This group was formed in 1974, being funded under a University Development Grant. The group had early success in developing a new, highly stable selective surface and incorporating it into evacuated tubular collectors. This was followed by substantial outside funding from the New South Wales State Government and from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Much of the R&D is closely integrated with industrial commercialisation activities, particularly those at Rheem Australia Limited in Sydney.

The major manufacturers Solahart, Beasley, Rheem and Edwards Hot Water Systems now undertake their own product development and their flat plate collectors, water heaters, and commercial and industrial installations are equal or superior to the products of their international competitors.

Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering