As cyclone season nears, CQU research explores new disaster power solution
As Central Queensland communities prepare for another tropical cyclone season, researchers at CQUniversity Australia are developing a clean-energy solution designed to help keep critical services powered when disaster strikes.
Led by researcher Professor Jamshid Aghaei alongside Associate Professor Sanath Alahakoon, Dr Hassan Baji, Dr Kianoush Emami, Dr Piet Janse Van Rensburg, Dr Md Ohirul Qays, and Dr Mohammad Reza Salehizadeh from CQUniversity's Centre for Sustainable Energy (CSE) and the School of Engineering and Technology, the project is investigating how transportable clean-energy systems can support critical facilities and disaster-affected communities until normal electricity supply is restored.
Floods, cyclones and other severe weather events can damage electricity infrastructure at the time communities need it most. Hospitals, evacuation centres, emergency services, communication networks and water infrastructure can all be affected by prolonged outages, particularly in regional and remote areas. Researchers believe Green Mobile Energy Hubs could provide an additional layer of resilience when conventional power networks are damaged or inaccessible.
The Green Mobile Energy Hub concept combines solar photovoltaic systems, battery energy storage, hydrogen technologies and intelligent energy management systems (EMSs) into a mobile platform that can be deployed where power is needed most.
"Floods and cyclones can damage electricity infrastructure when hospitals, evacuation centres and emergency services need reliable power the most," Co-Investigator, Dr Md Ohirul Qays said.
"Our research is examining practical ways to speed electricity recovery by predicting which parts of the network are most severely affected and prioritising support to isolated critical loads.
"The aim is to help communities maintain access to essential services until normal electricity supply can be restored."
The research comes as Queensland communities continue to face the challenges of increasingly severe weather events, with widespread power outages often impacting thousands of homes, businesses and essential services.
Unlike traditional emergency power solutions that rely primarily on diesel generators, Green Mobile Energy Hubs are designed as integrated clean-energy systems capable of operating independently of the main electricity network. By combining renewable energy generation, battery storage and hydrogen technologies, the hubs could provide more flexible and sustainable emergency power support.
A key element of the project is the development of advanced forecasting and optimisation tools to help emergency managers identify vulnerable parts of the electricity network and determine where support is likely to be needed most.
Using artificial intelligence-based modelling, the research team developed a flood-damage prediction approach that achieved a high level of accuracy while rapidly identifying potential impacts across electricity substations and network assets. The information can then be used to optimise the allocation and routing of Mobile Energy Hubs to isolated locations, helping reduce restoration times while maintaining acceptable network performance.
Professor Jonathan Love, Director of CQUniversity's Centre for Sustainable Energy (CSE), said the research highlighted the role emerging energy technologies could play in strengthening disaster resilience.
"Queensland communities are becoming increasingly familiar with the impacts of severe weather events and the challenges that come with extended power outages," Jonathan Love said.
"Research like this is helping us explore how renewable energy systems with solar power, battery storage and emerging technologies such as hydrogen for longer duration energy storage can work together to provide practical support when traditional infrastructure is disrupted.
"It demonstrates how CQUniversity researchers are applying their expertise to address real challenges facing regional communities while contributing to a more resilient and sustainable energy future."
The project has progressed through detailed modelling and simulation and is now moving towards practical testing and validation. Once equipment and components are received, researchers will assess how the technology performs under realistic operating conditions before progressing towards future commercialisation opportunities.
Potential applications range from trailer-based units capable of supporting communications, charging stations and emergency lighting through to larger systems designed to assist disaster recovery centres and other priority facilities.
The research forms part of the $1 million Driving Resilience – Harnessing Green Mobile Energy Hubs for Electrical Distribution Network and Displaced Communities' Resilience project, developed under the Queensland Resilience and Risk Reduction Fund 2023-24 which is jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland governments. CQUniversity is leading the initiative with stakeholders including Energy Queensland and the Department of Transport and Main Roads, alongside industry collaborator Linked Group Services.
As Queensland enters another summer storm season, researchers hope the project will help inform future approaches to disaster preparedness and recovery, while supporting more resilient and sustainable energy solutions for regional and remote communities.
The $14.7 million QRRRF 2023-24 is jointly funded by the Queensland Government ($8.45 million) and the Australian Government ($6.25 million).
The QRRRF is part of the five-year National Partnership Agreement on Disaster Risk Reduction, which started in 2019-20.
