- ABB Australia visited Monash University to learn how $150,000 worth of donated automation technology helps students prepare for their future careers in engineering.
- The drive, motor, and Programmable Logic Controller equipment was installed in the university’s Electrical Power Engineering Laboratory in 2014.
- The technology is part of the practical application study unit, teaching students about equipment that produces, channels, and distributes electrical power in motor-driven and synchronous machine applications.
Monash University is a global leader in engineering, providing students access to world-class research facilities and academics. Part of the Department of Electrical and Computer Systems Engineering (ECSE) at their Clayton campus in Victoria, their Power Engineering Advanced Research Lab (PEARL) and Electrical Power Engineering Lab (EPE) courses are developed with a commitment to teaching future engineers about the necessary applications and sustainable solutions to that are overcoming today’s climate crisis challenges.
In 2014, ABB donated over $150,000 worth of automation technology to the research and teaching labs. This donation has helped provide students with opportunities to learn about electrical generation, its control, and its use in Australia's renewable energy transition.
The donation included 1 x ACS880 variable speed drive, 8 x DCS800 DC drives, 16 x AC500 eco PLCs, 8 x ABB-Baldor electric motors, and 8 x ACSM1 Servo Drives combined with Regenerative Units, with full braking power. ABB recently toured the campus laboratories to get the latest update on how technology is being used in course learning today.
“Working with industrial partners such as Vestas and ABB provides our lab with the means to research, test, and develop grid-forming technology that will support Australia’s goal of integrating 100% renewable power into the grid.”
In the Power Engineering Advanced Research Lab, Postdoctoral Research Fellow Ali Asbafkan explains how his team has developed a wind turbine emulator testing system that incorporates an ABB ACS880 variable speed drive. This advanced setup is aimed at exploring grid-forming enabled wind turbine control, a technology that eases the integration of high-penetration inverter-based resources into the grid. The research focuses on effectively handling the growing influx of wind turbine energy, contributing to a stable and sustainable power grid.
“Working with industrial partners such as Vestas and ABB provides our lab with the means to research, test, and develop grid-forming technology that will support Australia’s goal of integrating 100% renewable power into the grid,” said Ali.
"It is essential work that allows us to identify the system technology and setup needed to enable the vital inertia and instant voltage support to the electrical grid during network disturbances. This helps to limit unexpected disruptions in power supply, allowing businesses and communities to continue operating without interruptions in their electricity supply."
In the Electrical Power Engineering Lab, there are sixteen workbenches used as part of Monash University’s power engineering curriculum on Electrical Energy Systems. This lab is the first unit for the course where students learn about electrical machines.
Participants learn how variable speed drives (VSDs) can optimise motor operability and reduce carbon emissions in everyday power applications.
Electric motors are the workhorse of industries and hold sizeable potential for energy savings. They are essential to almost every sector, yet many are inefficient. Industrial electric motors and the systems they drive use approximately 45% of the world’s energy.
When high efficiency motors are paired with a VSD, there’s the potential to cut energy losses by approximately 50%, which in turn delivers financial savings on energy costs.
Monash University’s Electrical Power Engineering (EPE) Laboratory at their Clayton Campus in Victoria, Australia. 
Inside the Monash University Electrical Power Engineering Laboratory. Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Ali Asbafkan (left) and Monash University Department of Electrical and Computer Systems Engineering Associate Professor, Dr Behrooz Bahrani (middle), take Rajesh Maker, ABB Australia Division Manager for Drive Products and System Drives (right) on a tour. 
ABB Australia Division Manager for Drive Products and System Drives, Rajesh Maker (right) receiving an update from Monash University Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Ali Asbafkan (left) inside the Power Engineering Advanced Research Lab (PEARL) about how they’re using an ABB ACS880 variable speed drive to simulate control for a wind turbine application. 
ABB’s ACS880 variable speed drive up close on the Power Engineering Advanced Research Lab (PEARL) test bench. 
Research work within Monash University’s Department of Electrical and Computer Systems Engineering (ECSE) includes performance and power testing of motors and inverters for Monash Motorsport - a student-run team who design, build, test and race formula style race cars in Australia, and around the world. They use these race cars to compete in Formula SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers), the world’s largest student engineering design competition. 
ABB’s AC brushless servo motor also features in the university’s Teaching Lab, and operates in conjunction with the ABB drive and PLC technology at each workstation. 
ABB’s ACSM1 motion control servo drive and regenerative unit feature at eight workstations in the Teaching Lab, along with a AC500 eco Programmable Logic Controller (PLC). 
ABB’s DCS800 DC drives and PLC are used by students for testing applications at another eight workstations in the Teaching Lab. 
ABB Motion Australia Marketing & PR Manager, Natalie Landrito (right) concluding the interview and lab tour with Monash University Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Ali Asbafkan (left) and Monash University Department of Electrical and Computer Systems Engineering Associate Professor, Dr Behrooz Bahrani (middle) beside an ABB technology student work bench.
Eight of the lab's workstations also feature ABB's Regenerative Units. These units help to teach students about their ability to produce energy savings by capturing wasted energy and returning it to the network for use by other equipment. Additionally, because they have minimal harmonic content, they eliminate electrical current interruptions that can be caused by network overloads. This helps prevent damage to sensitive electronic equipment and interference with communication equipment, among other benefits.
"I hope to have as many students as possible walking through those doors and continuing on to a successful career in power engineering. This is something the country is in desperate need of, especially due to the ongoing energy transition."
Associate Professor Dr. Behrooz Bahrani from the Department of Electrical and Computer Systems Engineering at Monash University stated, "We have up to 140 students participating in these classes every year. Once they have learned the theory, they have the opportunity to come to this teaching lab and apply what they have learned."
Dr. Bahrani added that they plan to expand the lab's offerings. He shared that in alignment with the Australian government's goal of having 50% of electricity generation from renewables by 2030, their next initiative is to educate students on grid integration using ABB drives.
"I hope to have as many students as possible walking through those doors and continuing on to a successful career in power engineering. This is something the country is in desperate need of, especially due to the ongoing energy transition."
Dr. Bahrani highlights the significant skills gap and lack of suitable candidates in the fields of energy conversion, renewable energy integration, power generation, and electrification.
“We are providing the learning mechanism, but there is still a shortage of human resources for these jobs,” he says.
Research has shown that there is increasing global competition for engineers, leading to a decline in student interest in power engineering programs. Dr. Bahrani and his team are dedicated to creating a positive experience for every student by intentionally designing hands-on lab work to counter this trend.
He continues, "Universities have also started taking power engineering more seriously and are willing to increase investment in the field. Fifteen years ago, Monash University used to have a small laboratory for this program of study. Today, our Electrical Power Engineering Lab is one of the largest in Victoria."
ABB Australia's Division Manager for Drive Products and System Drives, Rajesh Maker, stated, "We are proud to support our local community and academia in strengthening the engineering workforce in Australia.
These bright students have a special opportunity to learn using the technology that is aiding the country's shift towards a more energy-efficient economy. The invaluable work carried out by Monash University's Research Fellows and Professors ensures that students remain engaged and feel supported in pursuing career paths that contribute to the foundation of our society.”
ABB (ABBN: SIX Swiss Ex) is a technology leader in electrification and automation, enabling a more sustainable and resource-efficient future. The company’s solutions connect engineering know-how and software to optimize how things are manufactured, moved, powered, and operated. Building on 140 years of excellence, ABB’s ~105,000 employees are committed to driving innovations that accelerate industrial transformation.
ABB Motion, a global leader in motors and drives, is at the core of accelerating a more productive and sustainable future. We innovate and push the boundaries of technology to contribute to energy efficient, decarbonizing, and circular solutions for customers, industries, and societies. With our digitally enabled drives, motors, and services we support our customers and partners to achieve better performance, safety, and reliability. We deliver motor driven solutions for a wide range of applications in all industrial segments. Building on over 140 years of domain expertise in electric powertrains, our more than 22,000 employees across 100 countries learn and improve every day. go.abb/motion
