with the growing realisation of the detrimental implications of climate change to our future, water and energy have become critical global issues. Any modern civilisation and associated socioeconomic activities, such as transportation, manufacturing, industrial processes and automation, to name just few, depend heavily upon the availability of electrical energy, which most take for granted.
The deregulation of the power industry in many developed countries, including Australia, has increased the demand for high quality electrical power and a more efficient use of electrical energy.
Electrical energy must be generated in an economic manner to reduce costs and, in as many cases as possible, must be from renewable energy sources.
Developing countries such as China, India, and the Middle East, rely on the power infrastructure for their growth and development.
Moreover, Australia has an insatiable demand for power and major improvements to the power infrastructure around Sydney are planned over the next decade. There is increasing demand from the power-sector industries for suitably trained electrical and power engineers.
With the formation of the Australian Power Institute in 2004 and an ageing engineering workforce, the demand has become more evident and is expected to continue for many years.
The University of Sydney has started, from this year's enrolment, a new program in power engineering. Prof Vassilios Agelidis was appointed as the new chair of power engineering, funded for 5 years by Energy Australia. Graduates of the program will have a deep understanding of power engineering at both the system and device levels, the University of Sydney said. Their knowledge of power transmission, distribution and utilisation will be built on a solid foundation of basic mathematics and physics.
The new power engineering program is designed with key industrial partners and is complemented with real-world project work on protection of industrial and power plants, as well as transmission and distribution networks.
Students are exposed to maintenance practices of electrical grids, advanced monitoring and diagnostics technologies. Renewable energy systems such as wind and solar and the associated electronics to facilitate energy conversion and integration with the electrical grid help students understand the complexities associated with energy sustainability issues, the university said.
Students will also acquire broad skills in electrical engineering and information technology. Electrical power engineering has been and will remain a key discipline for the future.