An energy industry using generation from wave and concentrating solar photovoltaics supported by batteries that have a 50% increase in energy density is clearly part of the future and will feed into the reinvention of how energy networks will operate.
A mining industry that is powered by renewables and hybrid solutions while using smart locating technology to improve its operational costs and efficiency is also a clear vision of the not too distant future.
The Finalists in the Energy and Resources Technology awards provide these solutions and are profiled below. They jointly provide a picture of the future of these two industries on which Australia so heavily relies.
The annual Australian Technologies Competition (ATC) comes to a head on 16 September with the winners announced across six industry categories. The Finalists are developing a range of revolutionary innovations that address the big growth opportunities and challenges of the future. Solutions for food, water and energy security and the creation of new knowledge and skills intensive industries that will forge Australia’s position in global high-tech markets.
The judges come from technology, finance and business backgrounds and combine to do a detailed assessment of the company’s business plan focusing on the quality of the technology, the market need, the quality of the team and the business model that the company has adopted. To win, a company must excel in each category.
2014 Energy Technology Award Finalists
| Carnegie Wave Energy (ASX:CWE) | WA | Carnegie Wave Energy (ASX:CWE) is focused on developing and commercialising its 100% owned CETO wave energy technology which is capable of producing zero-emission power and direct desalinated water. CETO differs from other wave technologies under development globally by being fully submerged and being able to generate power both onshore and offshore. CETO has been proven at pilot scale and is now in its commercial demonstration phase. |
| Nano-Nouvelle | QLD | Nano-Nouvelle is developing the Tin NanodeTM, a high performance battery technology, which increases the energy density by up to 50% so that more energy can be stored in smaller batteries. Stephanie Moroz and her team aim to commercialise their high capacity lithium ion batteries in the next 2-3 years, meeting the ever increasing energy demands of mobile devices. In 2012, 4.5 billion lithium ion battery cells were produced worldwide, which was 32GWh of storage capacity, and value of US $10.5 billion. Nearly all of these were for phones, laptops and tablets but they are being used in more and more devices. The Nanode has the potential to impact our daily lives. Phones could last a lot longer between charges, and in the longer term electric vehicles might have an extra 100km of driving range. |
| RayGen Resources | VIC | Developing the world’s lowest cost energy. Raygen’s Concentrated Solar Photovoltaics (CSPV) combines the best elements of two leading solar power technologies, without their shortcomings.CSPV power stations use mirrors to concentrate light by 800 times onto a dense array of ultra-efficient photovoltaic cells. World solar capacity is growing exponentially. A mass of 3GW of solar capacity was added in 2013 at a cost of over $100B. It is a huge market and Raygen is developing a genuine breakthrough product. |
2014 Mining Technology Award Finalists
| Minnovare | WA | Minnovare has found the solution to time consuming land surveying methods when aligning a drill rig. The Azimuth Aligner device is easy for drillers to use and reduces the time needed to align a drill rig from more than 1.5 hours to just five minutes.By using the latest in military grade north seeking gyro technology, drill rig operators can use the Azimuth Aligner®’s real time display to accurately align a rig and replace the need for GPS and surveyors. By automating what is traditionally a manual and labour intensive process the Azimuth Aligner® significantly improves ‘bit on bottom’ time, safety, efficiency and overall drilling productivity. |
| RayGen Resources | VIC | See above |
| Regen Power | WA | Regen Power has developed a generator that integrates wind, solar, diesel and battery storage. HybridGenTM Power Pack saves 85% fuel over a conventional generator. In addition, the HybridGen system works more efficiently providing improved quality and reliability and reduced maintenance. The system is ideal for remote and regional communities and mining operations. |
An initiative of the Australian Federal government, and now in its fourth year, the ATC has a track record of finding, mentoring and promoting some of Australia’s best technology companies. The Showcase and Awards dinner will celebrate the success of Australia’s top 36 Semi Finalists and is an opportunity to rub shoulders with these leading companies, meet the country’s leading commercialisation experts and learn from international speakers on what Asian markets are seeking.
And of course find out which companies will be the 2014 Winners.
More information at www.austechcomp.com
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