University of Malta's Engineering Department academics secure funding for three innovative projects.

In a remarkable achievement, three academics from the Department of Electrical Engineering at the University of Malta have been awarded funding for Groundbreaking Projects.

Prof. Alexander Micallef, Prof. Michael Galea, and Dr Ing. John Licari, have each secured funding through the SINO-MALTA Fund 2023 Call for Science and Technology Cooperation. The three academics are collaborating with Chinese counterparts from Tiangong University; University of Nottingham Ningbo Campus and Yongjiang Laboratory Ningbo; and Beijing Institute of Technology, respectively.

The projects, funded by the Malta Council for Science and Technology (MCST) and the Ministry for Science and Technology of the People’s Republic of China (MOST), are poised to make significant contributions to the electrical engineering field.

DISTRICT - Decarbonisation of Ports Using Microgrid Technologies with Shore and Offshore Power (Prof. Alexander Micallef). This project aims to contribute to the green transition of ports by developing strategies to decarbonize present and future port activities. DISTRICT focuses on designing port microgrids for onshore activities and offshore stations powered by renewable sources to supply anchored ships. The goal is to achieve higher penetrations of renewables and a significant leap towards carbon neutrality in future shipping operations.

HESS - Hybrid Energy Storage System (Dr Ing. John Licari). The HESS project aims to contribute to the green transition of land transportation by developing an Energy Hub Microgrid concept. Key activities include minimising green energy curtailment through local energy storage, providing an optimised hybrid energy storage solution, and generating an alternative fuel for land transportation from surplus energy. The project facilitates the integration of more renewables, addressing challenges towards carbon neutrality.

SGdrive - High Reliability and High Power Density Starter/Generator System for MEA (Prof. Michael Galea).

With global air transport increasing by about 2 - 4 times within the next two decades, pollution emissions are a huge challenge for the aviation industry. Aviation electrification technology can replace 70% of the current energy generation, distribution and consumption in the traditional secondary energy system.

The SGdrive project aims to develop highly innovative starter-generator systems for the More Electric Aircraft (MEA) through collaborative research, collectively supported by China MOST and Malta MCST. The overarching aim is to develop an ultra-high power density system which is 1) modular, 2) highly reliable and 3) seamlessly vehicle-integrated.

From the University of Malta’s perspective, the main focus will be on the integration and the reliability aspects of the starter-generator.

These projects mark a significant stride forward for the Department of Electrical Engineering, positioning it at the forefront of advancements in the field.

The projects commenced in January 2024, with a duration of 24 months each. Regular updates on the progress and outcomes of these ventures will be shared with the academic community and the public.

For more information, the department can be contacted by email or the PIs of the respective projects directly. 

DISTRICT, SGdrive and HESS received funding from the Malta Council for Science and Technology (MSCT) and the Ministry for Science and Technology of the People’s Republic of China (MOST), through the SINO-MALTA Fund 2023 Call (Science and Technology Cooperation).

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