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 • 12 Dec 2022
Paid leave for school carnivals, sick pets, weddings and life admin on list of benefits offered by University
Staff at the University of Newcastle will be able to take up to ten days a year of paid leave to care for pets, go to school concerts, manage their life admin and attend weddings and other ceremonies, under the Enterprise Agreements being voted on this week.
News • 02 Dec 2022
Protecting coral reefs and extreme weather on earth and in space: $4.8m in ARC funding
Our environment and how we protect it will be a key focus for innovative researchers from the University of Newcastle, who were successful in the latest round of funding in from the Australian Research Council (ARC) Discovery Projects Scheme.
News • 01 Dec 2022
Asthma in pregnancy toolkit rolls out to help stop flare-ups
A world first Asthma and Pregnancy Toolkit designed to improve the health of pregnant women and their babies will be rolled out across the ACT.
News • 01 Dec 2022
Schools improve overall wellbeing with an inexpensive program that gets kids moving
Many young people’s mental health declined during the pandemic. Changing school culture to increase children’s physical activity at school helps to reverse this trend, researchers have found.
News • 01 Dec 2022
Researcher identifies 6,000 sperm proteins, potentially leading to a male contraceptive
A researcher has for the first time profiled 6,000 sperm proteins that could help create a non-hormonal male contraceptive - while also building on key research linking sperm health to overall men’s health.
News • 28 Nov 2022
Enterprise Bargaining Update 28 November 2022
The University of Newcastle has today tabled a revised offer to unions and staff representatives as it moves to finalise enterprise bargaining ahead of Christmas.
News • 28 Nov 2022
Quality Teaching Rounds recognised for Research Impact
The University of Newcastle's Teachers and Teaching Research Centre has won the prestigious Engagement Australia 2022 Excellence Award for Outstanding Engagement for Research Impact.
News • 28 Nov 2022
Shipping exposure impacts marine parks and marine giants
Shipping exposure within marine parks is likely causing long-term effects to Australian marine ecosystems and its marine life, researchers have discovered.
News • 26 Nov 2022
Preschoolers’ screen time logs link to sleep and development
Australian preschoolers’ growing screen time use, whether at day or night, is associated with poorer sleep, and poorer language and cognitive development, University of Newcastle researchers have revealed.
News • 25 Nov 2022
Researchers investigate recovery from intimate partner violence
Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI) and University of Newcastle researchers have discovered women who experience Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) are nearly twice as likely to suffer mental health disorders and only around 22 per cent felt fully recovered after a decade.
News • 23 Nov 2022
$1m to improve schizophrenia treatment
Professor Murray Cairns has been awarded $1 million in NSW Government funding to explore genetically informed precision medicine for schizophrenia using human cerebral organoids.
News • 23 Nov 2022
University dives into new swimming Performance Hub
Elite swimmers in the region will now be able to train in Newcastle with the University of Newcastle today officially opening its new NUsport Performance Hub, created in partnership with Swimming NSW and the NSW Institute of Sport.
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.