Dr. Manickam Minakshi (Murdoch University), Associate Professor David Mickler (Curtin University) and Professor Aldo Stroebel (University of Mpumalanga)

A significant milestone in global clean energy innovation is unfolding, driven by a newly awarded grant from the Australia Africa Universities Network (AAUN). Dr. Minakshi from Murdoch University's School of Engineering and Energy—a renowned authority in sustainable energy materials—will lead an international research collaboration focused on developing affordable, renewable energy storage solutions.

The project unites top-tier institutions across two continents: University of New South Wales (UNSW) and Edith Cowan University (ECU) in Australia, alongside the University of Pretoria and University of Nairobi in Africa.

Funded through AAUN’s Partnership & Research Development Fund (PRDF), the initiative will focus on creating electrode materials from waste biomass and sodium-based sources. These sustainable materials will be tested for use in advanced energy storage systems, including batteries and supercapacitors.

“This collaboration is about more than just science—it’s about building lasting partnerships and sharing knowledge across continents to tackle global energy challenges,” said Dr. Minakshi.

Beyond technical innovation, the project aims to foster long-term research ties, build specialist teams, and deliver real-world impact. By paving the way for scalable, renewable energy storage technologies, the collaboration also lays the groundwork for future external funding and continued innovation in the clean energy sector.