Dr Glenn Platt: engineering change in energy usage
Dr Glenn Platt is driving CSIRO’s research on energy efficiency and smart energy systems, improving how energy is delivered to and used by consumers, and developing cost effective technologies to cut greenhouse gas emission in Australia.
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3 December 2010 | Updated 4 April 2012
Dr Glenn Platt leads the Energy Transformed Flagship's research in energy efficiency, demand management and smart grids as Theme leader for Local Energy Systems.
In this role, he directs the research of a diverse team of energy experts delivering world leading science; finding ways to use energy more efficiently, and developing new technologies for improving how energy is used in buildings and delivered by the electricity network.
His team is developing techniques to integrate more renewable energy sources into Australia’s electricity system and innovating technologies and strategies to modernise the national grid, to manage demand peaks and meet future electricity needs.
Current activities
Local Energy Systems research is looking at energy use in building and efficient energy management of energy systems.
Current work areas include:
- solar cooling
- intelligent control of heating, cooling and ventilation systems
- smart grid control technologies
- integration of renewable energy sources using minigrids
- integration of electric vehicles into homes and the grid
- zero and low emission residential and commercial buildings.
Background
Dr Platt's has a background in electrical engineering and wireless communications which has given him a sound platform to apply his theoretical knowledge to the world of distributed energy management and intelligent energy systems.
Dr Platt leads a diverse team of energy experts, and has an eagerness and interest in applying his skills as an engineer to helping the wider community.
Numerous industry roles, including his experience as a research engineer in Denmark with Nokia Mobile Phones, have given Dr Platt an understanding of the practical characteristics of real-world systems and how research can be applied to solve specific challenges.
As Dr Platt explains, 'Whilst there's a lot of focus on large-scale clean generation techniques, my team concentrates on the demand side of the electricity system and energy efficiency technologies that can help us use less electricity, and distributed generation technologies that make electricity close to where it will be consumed, for example, solar panels on the roof of your house.'
'These technologies, focusing on where we actually use the electricity, have benefits such as reducing the need for more large infrastructure, allowing people to feel ownership of their energy consumption, and improving the reliability of our electricity system.'
Dr Platt has also been instrumental in establishing CSIRO as a key partner in EnergyAustralia's Smart Grid Smart City consortium, which is working on the first commercial scale demonstration of smart grid technology in Australia.
Dr Platt is responsible for managing the combined efforts of a sizeable team of researchers and technicians from CSIRO Energy Technology, Earth Science and Resource Engineering, Ecosystem Science and the ICT Centre.
Academic qualifications
Dr Platt studied electrical engineering at the University of Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia, completing a thesis titled Power line carrier communication methods.
During his undergraduate degree he won a scholarship to study overseas and spent time studying at Ohio University, USA. His Doctorate was in electrical engineering in the area of telecommunications.
Dr Platt has also completed Master of Business Administration (MBA).
Achievements
Dr Platt has received numerous awards in recognition of his work including:
- completed the Vincent Fairfax Leadership programme in 2008
- co-winner of The International Symposium on Energy, Informatics and Cybertics' Best Paper Award, 2005
- winner of The University of Newcastle Postgraduate Student's Association student scholarship, 2002
- winner of the Institution of Engineers Australia 'Ian Henderson Award' for public speaking, 2001
- awarded Young Achievers Australia Young Business Person of the Year for Hunter region, 1998.
Learn more about CSIRO's work in Renewables and smart systems.
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