- Australia
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The project will bring Deakin’s best and brightest students and academics together with ACCIONA’s personnel and resources to design and build a solar vehicle capable of competing at the highest levels.
The project will involve students and staff from across the University. Currently there are more than 260 students from four different Schools within Deakin, across three campuses, involved in the vehicle project. This includes investigating all facets from design to weather patterns, logistics, marketing, user experiences and the future of mobility.
“As a world leader in renewable energy, we’re excited to be partnering with Deakin to promote innovation, education and engineering,” said Brett Wickham, Managing Director of ACCIONA Energy Australia. “It’s a superb educational establishment, and we are very impressed with the high quality of students and academics who will collaborate with us on this great initiative. We are looking forward to unveiling a fully functioning, registered vehicle to the public by 2021.”
Deakin Vice-President Industry Engagement, Innovation and Commercialisation Professor Peter Hodgson said the University was delighted to combine its leading engineering research and teaching with ACCIONA Energy Australia’s highly-recognised industry know-how to offer students the thrilling opportunity of competing in the World Solar Challenge.
“Building a competitive race car is always a challenge, so it is critical that we bring together a team with the right people who have the determination and skills,” Professor Hodgson said.
“Our partnership with ACCIONA Energy Australia will deliver a winning combination, leveraging and building on Geelong’s rich automotive heritage, Deakin will add breakthrough technologies to deliver a world-class vehicle in this advanced manufacturing era.”
Deakin’s researchers work to discover innovative solutions to real-world issues. Through its links to industry and collaborative partnerships, the university is a leader in engineering, materials, manufacturing and the business systems that underpin these in the workplace.
The World Solar Challenge pushes the limits of technological innovation through travelling the Australian outback in a vehicle powered only by the energy of the sun.
The 3,000km route from Darwin to Adelaide involves teams comprising of tertiary and secondary students from over 30 countries. These students and their support teams build a vehicle with their own hands and power it across one of the world's most challenging environments.
About ACCIONA
ACCIONA is a global group that develops and operates sustainable infrastructure, particularly renewable energy. The group’s expertise covers the entire value chain, from design and construction to operation and maintenance. ACCIONA aims to lead the transition to a low-carbon economy by placing its technical excellence and innovation at the service of all projects in order to design a better planet. Present in more than 40 countries, with sales totaling €7.51 billion in 2018, the company is committed to making a positive social and economic contribution in the communities where it operates. www.acciona.com
ACCIONA Australia
ACCIONA began operating in Australia in 2002, building its business to become an industry leader in renewable energy, infrastructure, construction and water. The company has successfully delivered large-scale projects including new and upgraded road and rail infrastructure, tunnels, bridges, desalination and water treatment plants, as well as wind and solar farms.
ACCIONA is a significant contributor to the Australian economy, with equity positions in several projects and a major investment in Geotech, a leading infrastructure and construction company. ACCIONA employs around 1,000 staff in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, as well as regional locations, and continually invests in Australian skills and jobs.
About Deakin University
Deakin, named after Australia’s second Prime Minister, is a young contemporary university with a reputation for being innovative, nimble and friendly. We aspire to combine excellent research and outstanding teaching with a strong focus on the communities we serve. Deakin is ranked in the top 2 per cent of the world’s universities in each of the major rankings, and ranking 211 in the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU). Deakin researchers are making a difference through world-class research and innovation.