Electrification and geothermal heating: Arena backs new ways to cut industrial emissions

Producers of pet food, barramundi and wine will receive federal funding to study ways to save power and cut pollution, spurring other manufacturers to fish for change.

The projects chosen by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency are intended to unlock further investment, by providing methods that can be copied by other manufacturers finding it difficult to reduce emissions.

Supporting ten feasibility studies totalling almost $2 million, the agency’s chief executive Darren Miller said Australia’s most energy intensive industries need plans to incorporate renewable energy in their operations.

“The grants we’ve announced today are for businesses eager to get on the front foot, looking to deploy renewable energy technologies in new ways,” he said on Thursday.

The projects would reduce emissions and make every watt count, assistant minister for climate change and energy Jenny McAllister said.

The federal industrial decarbonisation programs have $440 million up for grabs, and remain open for applications.

Eligible sectors include agriculture, mining, manufacturing, gas supply, water supply, waste services and data centres.

SUPPORT FOR INNOVATORS

– Brown winery in Milawa, Victoria, will use $116,397 to identify low emissions and energy efficient technologies.

– Renewable energy and a lagoon to treat wastewater at the G&K O’Connor meat processing facility in Pakenham, Victoria gets $399,503.

– Some $250,400 will develop a heat energy recovery system at Real Pet Food Co’s manufacturing sites in Queensland and NSW.

– George Weston Food small-goods facility in Castlemaine, Victoria gets $242,924 to modernise refrigeration infrastructure.

– Almost quarter of a million ($244,677) for energy efficiency and electrification at Quantem in Port Botany, West Melbourne and Brisbane.

– Beston Global Food Company dairy factory in Jervois, South Australia gets $205,000 for site-wide energy efficiency and electrification.

– Unilever’s hygiene and food manufacturing sites across NSW and Victoria will use $149,850 to develop a decarbonisation road map.

– Some $147,800 for energy from waste at the Bindaree Beef meat processing facility in Inverell, NSW.

– Energy efficiency optimised across the Grampians Wimmera Mallee Water pipeline in Western Victoria for $117,515.

– Some $110,000 to investigate a geothermal heating system at a barramundi farm in Latrobe Valley, Victoria.

Source: AAP