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 Oct 2022
Exploring the connection between caring and women's cardiovascular health
Researchers are investigating the connection between caring duties and the cardiovascular health of female carers, specifically women who are caring for people with stroke.
News • 20 Oct 2022
New research shows global abundance of small microplastics is grossly underestimated
For the first time, researchers have examined small microplastics around the marine surface waters of the Whitsunday Islands region of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, Australia, to ask how small is our big microplastic problem?
News • 13 Oct 2022
$3.9m in NHMRC grants to fight global health problem
Two University of Newcastle researchers will focus on one of the world’s most insidious diseases – cancer, supported by more than $3.9m in National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Investigator grants.
News • 12 Oct 2022
University of Newcastle moves up in World University Rankings
The University of Newcastle has continued to excel as a global leader for the region, moving up a band in the latest Times Higher Education World University rankings, to rank in the top 200-250 universities in the world out of almost 1,800 institutions.
News • 07 Oct 2022
University of Newcastle’s Q Building officially opens
The University of Newcastle’s Q Building has been officially opened today by The Hon. Rob Stokes MP Minister for Infrastructure, Cities, and Active Transport.
News • 06 Oct 2022
Opinion: Celebrating our cultural and arts legacy
When my partner and I relocated to Newcastle nearly a decade ago, we chose to live in the Newcastle CBD to be part of the renaissance of the community. In the last decade we’ve watched and participated in what I like to call the evolution from our dependency on the mine, to the dependency on the...
News • 04 Oct 2022
University of Newcastle scientist Professor Ravi Naidu receives prestigious global award for ground-breaking environmental research
Distinguished scientist Laureate Professor Ravi Naidu has been awarded the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award (PBSA), the highest honour conferred to a non-Indian resident or person of Indian Origin who has made significant contributions in their respective field.
News • 27 Sep 2022
Dog vaccine and steel recycling projects awarded nearly $800,000 in Australian Research Council funding
The Australian Research Council (ARC) has announced its latest round of funding for Linkage Project grants, with two University of Newcastle projects attracting funding totalling nearly $800,000.
News • 23 Sep 2022
Researchers make new connections between sperm and overall health
Researchers from the Infertility and Reproduction Program at Hunter Medical Research Institute have unearthed a connection between lipid peroxidation that occurs in both poor sperm health and in other diseases.
News • 23 Sep 2022
Energy Doctoral Training Centre launched to support the new energy economy
The University of Newcastle has launched a third Doctoral Training Centre (DTC) in Energy.
News • 20 Sep 2022
$12m program rolling out regional diabetes care
The Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI), Hunter New England Health Local Health District (HNELHD), the Hunter New England Central Coast Primary Health Network (HNECCPHN) and the University of Newcastle are improving access to diabetes care in rural and regional areas.
News • 20 Sep 2022
Media Statement: Enterprise bargaining and industrial action
Please attribute this statement to University of Newcastle Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Kent Anderson:
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.