Goal 7:
Affordable and Clean Energy
Local Community Outreach for Energy Efficiency
The University of Newcastle provides programs to educate the local community about the importance of energy efficiency and clean energy.
In 2024, through the Centre for Organic Electronics (COE), we continued to raise awareness about solar technology and clean energy solutions. COE is a global leader in the exciting emerging field of 'functional printing', which uses conventional printing technologies to manufacture clever, high performing, low-cost materials to help solve some of the world's greatest challenges.
The Centre for Organic Electronics is marrying the creation of clever electronic inks with well-established printing technologies to address global challenges spanning renewable energy, health & medicine, and mining safety.
Their core focus is on translating cutting edge research for real world impact. As such, they partner with business, industry and government to generate products, systems and services that benefit our global community.
The COE is multidisciplinary, with expertise spanning physics, chemistry, engineering, biology, health, design and communications. This depth and breadth of talent and expertise enables us to successfully manage projects from end-to-end.
Research themes include:
- printed solar
- biosensors & bioelectronics
- artificial colour retina
- scanning helium microscopy (SHeM)
- medical physics
Not just a hub for innovative research, the COE is one of the only research facilities in the world capable of also manufacturing printed electronic devices at commercial scale.
The University of Newcastle's Centre for Organic Electronics (COE) Successfully Hosted Its 14th Annual Spring School in 2024
In 2024, this three-day event provided undergraduate students from various disciplines, including Science, Math, IT, Engineering, and Medical Sciences, with an opportunity to explore cutting-edge research in organic electronics. The program featured lectures from local and international experts, hands-on experiences in COE labs, and interactive think tank sessions aimed at inspiring students to pursue research careers. Highlights included fabricating organic solar cells, operating advanced microscopes, racing simulated EV cars, and learning about Printed Solar and its recycling. Accredited by CIFAL Newcastle and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), students received formal recognition for their participation. The event, sponsored by Spruson & Ferguson Intellectual Property and the Australian National Fabrication Facility, saw students awarded for solar cell efficiency and EV racing. Following the event’s success, many students expressed interest in continuing their research journey with the COE.
In December 2024, University-made Printed Solar powered Coldplay concerts in COE partnership.
Coldplay has made significant commitments to sustainability, continuously exploring and applying new technologies to reduce their environmental impact. This partnership was another step towards achieving their ambitious sustainability goals to reduce their tour’s carbon emissions by 50%.
An array of 500 square meters (about twice the area of a tennis court) of Printed Solar was placed behind the seats behind the stage and elsewhere in the venue to collect power in battery packs. These batteries were then used to power Coldplay’s C Stage and fulfil other ancillary power needs throughout the venue.
Printed Solar uses organic photovoltaics (OPVs) which are a next-generation solar cell technology that uses organic compounds to convert sunlight into electricity. Now producing at scale with the support of the Newcastle Australian National Fabrication Facility (ANFF) Hub, located at the Newcastle Institute for Energy and Resources (NIER). Manufactured with PET plastic using roll-to-roll printing techniques and fully recycled in-house, Printed Solar is one of the lowest emission-intensive energy sources available.
Dr Ben Vaughan, Hub Manager for the ANFF, says Printed Solar has enormous potential for a variety of applications.
Members of TRaCE, NIER, COE and Kardinia Energy backstage at Accor Stadium.
The COE team in Newcastle holding up a roll of Printed Solar designed for the Coldplay concert.
COE, the University of Newcastle Australia 5:43
Learn more
News • 20 Feb 2024
$10.6m MRFF funding boosts researchers’ mission to improve Australia’s health
Seven University of Newcastle teams have secured more than $10.6m in Australian government funding to help solve some of the nation’s most pressing health issues.
News • 20 Feb 2024
Nursing and teaching degrees popular as University of Newcastle’s Welcome Week activities commence
Almost 10,000 new students will start their university journey this week as they join in the University of Newcastle’s Welcome Week activities.
News • 13 Feb 2024
Central Coast Living Lab promotes healthy ageing at home
A collaborative workshop has marked the launch of the first Central Coast Health & Wellbeing Living Lab – an innovative, real-life experimentation hub designed to support healthy ageing at home for generations to come.
News • 08 Feb 2024
$438,000 funding to boost cleantech innovation in the Hunter
Local clean technology innovators will have more opportunity to bring their products to market with the NSW Government awarding $438,375 in funding for the University of Newcastle’s Hunter Cleantech Accelerator.
News • 06 Feb 2024
New study aims to unlock secrets of effective stress management
University of Newcastle and Hunter Medical Research Institute researchers are working to better understand which stress management techniques and tools work, and who they’re working for.
News • 31 Jan 2024
Major breakthrough in hypertension diagnosis could save Government billions
HMRI and University of Newcastle researcher, Professor Murray Cairns, along with his Precision Medicine team have discovered a way of predicting who will respond to blood pressure treatments to lower sodium in the body.
News • 29 Jan 2024
Celebrating our outstanding community with 2024 Australia Day Honours
The University of Newcastle congratulates all recipients who have been recognised in the 2024 Australia Day Honours, in particular celebrating those that make up a vital part of the University community.
News • 29 Jan 2024
Community encouraged to have their say on proposed City Campus Student Accommodation
The University of Newcastle will present its proposed city campus student accommodation plans and design to the local community in February, encouraging public input as planning and development on the project progresses. The proposed student accommodation is the second stage of development and will accommodate upward of 450 students.
News • 23 Jan 2024
Female leadership key to community ‘saving itself’ in unprecedented trauma
As the two-year anniversary of the devastating Northern Rivers’ flooding looms, new research from the University of Newcastle has shown the female-led response to the trauma prevailed where authorities failed.
News • 23 Jan 2024
Cutting-edge facility set to get the most out of athletes
Hunter Sports Centre is raising the bar on athlete performance in the Hunter with the opening of a cutting-edge new facility at the Glendale site.
News • 23 Jan 2024
Citizen of the Year honoured for pioneering COVID-19 treatment
Two leading University of Newcastle health researchers, Professor Nathan Bartlett and Professor Julie Byles have each been honoured in the 2024 City of Newcastle Citizen of the Year Awards.
News • 15 Jan 2024
$3.6m NHMRC funding fuels innovative ideas
Premature birth, severe asthma and sperm stress will be a key focus for innovative researchers from the University of Newcastle and Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI), who were successful in the latest round of National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Ideas Grants.
The University of Newcastle acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands within our footprint areas: Awabakal, Darkinjung, Biripai, Worimi, Wonnarua, and Eora Nations. We also pay respect to the wisdom of our Elders past and present.