Australian Friends Support Renewable Energy Research

Members of the Australian Friends Association (Victoria Chapter) attended the plaque unveiling marking the group’s support for research equipment in the laboratory of Dr. Iftach Yacoby, who produces hydrogen gas – the world’s cleanest fuel – from algae. The project is a joint cooperation between the Iby and Aladar Fleischman Faculty of Engineering and the George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences. “TAU is the largest center for renewable energy research in Israel,” said Dean of Engineering Yossi Rosenwaks at the ceremony.

Dr. Victor Wayne, President of the Australian Friends (Vic.), explained, “Our Association has a tradition of supporting scholarships for needy students, but we are very excited to take this step into the field of renewable energy, an area of existing cooperation between Australia and Israel. The Friends Association will be happy to collaborate in this field in the future.” He noted that the University was already collaborating with Monash University, Melbourne, in this and other fields.

The group toured Dr. Yacoby’s lab and heard how a mass spectrometer was especially built in his laboratory to measure the amount of hydrogen gas uptake from micro algae cultures. “Hydrogen is a viable renewable energy alternative and will be used to fuel the automobile of the future,” said Yacoby.

The ceremony was moderated by Mr. Meir Buber, Senior Resource Executive for English-speaking countries at Tel Aviv University and coordinated by Gill Rosner, Liaison to Australia.