A NATIONAL testing facility for desalination research launched last Friday at Murdoch University’s Rockingham campus and announced its first national and local research projects.

The Hon. Gary Gray, MP Parliamentary Secretary for Western and Northern Australia, broke ground for the National Centre for Excellence in Desalination (NCED) on behalf of the Australian Government Minister for Climate Change, Energy Efficiency and Water, Senator Penny Wong, saying “We really are at the epicentre of something that’s extremely important—important for our community in a dry state and important for our industry.”

Murdoch University Vice Chancellor Prof John Yovich AM, Mr Graeme Rowley (NCED Chair), Hon. Gary Gray MP, Parlimentary Secretary for Western and Northern Australia, Mr David Furakawa (Chief Scientific Officer, NCED) and Dr David Doepel (Interim CEO, NCED) / Image: Courtesy Murdoch University

The final twelve research projects from the NCED’s initial funding round in June 2010 were announced, with the projects covering one of five themes: pre-treatment; reverse osmosis desalting; novel desalting; concentrate management; and social, economic and environmental issues.

Prof. Parisa Arabzadeh Bahri of Murdoch University (with Dr Laurence Mann from Carnegie Wave Energy) will research CETO wave energy technology while Prof. Hui Tong Chua from the University of Western Australia (partnering with BHP Billiton, the Western Australia Geothermal Centre of Excellence and Worsely Alumina) will research new heat-driven desalination technology.

Assistant Prof. Anna Heitz from Curtin University of Technology (working with Orica Watercare, Water Corporation, Monash University, New Logic Research Inc. and UTEP) will research vibratory shear membrane technology while Edith Cowan University’s Assistant Prof. Ray Froend (working with Rio Tinto, Water Corporation, the WA Centre of Excellence in Ecohydrology and the WA Department of Environment and Conservation) will research the management of brine disposal in inland ecosystems. Dr Tanya King of Deakin University will lead researchers from both Murdoch and Edith Cowan universities in studying the Australian public’s perception of desalination.

The NCED was established with $20 million in funding under the National Urban Water and Desalination Plan, with $3 million committed towards research over a three year period. The NCED raised a total of $11 million in research funding by obtaining $7.1 million from institutions and $1.5 million from industry. The Centre’s next funding round opens in September 2010.

The other projects included researchers from the University of South Australia, the University of Queensland, Flinders University, Victoria University, the University of Technology Sydney, Monash University and the University of New South Wales. The projects also included partnerships with organisations such as CSIRO, CWMWater, Siemens, Osmoflo, DOW Chemical, SA Water, Sydney Water, SkyJuice Foundation, Melbourne Water, Yarra Valley Water, SARDI, KAUST Saudi Arabia, State Water NSW, Coliban Water, Steri-flow Filtration Systems, Stanford University, Ceramipore, Tarong Energy, and The Pumphouse.

Dr. David Doepel, NCED’s CEO, summed up the announcement by saying “It is a collection, I believe, of the best and brightest minds around Australia, who are passionate about this technology and its importance to Australia’s future water security.”

For further information: National Centre of Excellence in Desalination: http://www.desalination.edu.au

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