Industrial process heat accounts for over 40% of fossil fuel use in industry. The Australian Alliance for Energy Productivity (A2EP) has conducted 27 studies to investigate renewable process heating technologies across a range of food, beverage and industrial processes. The studies show that industrial heat pumps are suited for low temperature heating applications and are economically and technically feasible for processes operating at temperatures lower than 90˚C.

A2EP’s Final Knowledge Sharing Report, as well as their new website called Future Heat, helps reduce barriers to the adoption of heat pumps and raises awareness of process heat alternatives for decarbonisation. Two sites are already planning the transition to renewable process heat following A2EP-led studies: Hardwick Meatworks in Victoria’s Macedon Ranges and the 3 Ravens Brewery in Melbourne’s inner-north.

Image: a) Industrial heat pump; b) Extract from A2EP’s Final Report

Read A2EP’s Final Report  

Read the ARENAWIRE blog on renewable process heat 

The Australian HVAC&R sector consumes around 22% of all electricity produced and is responsible for around 50% of peak demand on the electricity grid. ARENA has co-funded the Affordable Heating and Cooling Innovation Hub (i-Hub), coordinated by the Australian Institute for Refrigeration, Air-conditioning and Heating (AIRAH), to work on a number of projects to demonstrate how renewable energy technology can be optimally integrated with HVAC&R equipment.

Read our spotlight interview with Vincent Aherne, Project Lead at i-Hub, to learn about enhanced demand response, load flexibility, renewable energy uptake and integration of various technologies

Image: Integrated Design Studio - School design with solar panels moderating shade in courtyard

Read our spotlight interview with AIRAH 

The lack of economically-viable energy storage is a significant hurdle for many HVAC&R end users, preventing industry transformation from the existing heavy reliance on grid energy consumption for the sector. The Advancing Renewables with Phase Change Material (PCM) Thermal Energy Storage (TES) project integrates innovative Glaciem PCM technologies with solar PV and low-cost TES batteries.

The innovation has been recently recognised by AIRAH’s 2021 awards for: Excellence in refrigeration; Innovative use of renewable energy in HVAC&R, and Excellence in Innovation.

The first Lessons Learnt Report provides insights on the development, installation, and commissioning of TES and advanced control and forecasting algorithms integrated with solar PV, existing refrigeration infrastructure and system control integration.
 

Image: Glaciem Cooling Technologies wins three AIRAH awards

Read Glaciem’s first Lessons Learnt Report  

Municipal aquatic centres are the highest energy consuming and greenhouse gas emitting facilities managed by councils. As part of a net zero emissions commitment, Brimbank City Council is looking to adopt an ‘all-electric’ equipment model for its aquatic centre by installing a high tech heat pump paired with a heat recovery system, above ground thermal storage “battery” and digital control system.

The project’s first Lessons Learnt Report discusses the heat pump and thermal energy storage options considered as part of the design process and identifies opportunities to improve energy performance and environmental outcomes on future projects.
 

Image: Artist’s impression of the future Brimbank Aquatic and Wellness Centre, Brimbank City Council.

Read Brimbank City Council’s first Lessons Learnt Report 

Presented by the Energy Efficiency Council, and now in its ninth year, the National Energy Efficiency Awards are your annual opportunity to be recognised for your efforts and celebrate your commitment to smart energy management.

Individuals and organisations are invited to nominate people, programs, products and projects that demonstrate their outstanding achievement in performance, leadership and innovation.

Nominations are open until 5:00 PM AEDT on Thursday 31 March 2022.

Image: National Energy Efficiency Awards 2022 flyer.

Learn more about the National Energy Efficiency Awards  

Distributed Energy Resources

• The Distributed Energy Integration Program (DEIP) hosted the DEIP CEO Forum, a virtual meeting of the CEOs and senior representatives in DEIP. The CEO Forum discussed progress in the previous year and the upcoming priorities. View the presentation. 
   
• The DEIP Dynamic Operating Envelopes (DOE) workstream has consulted on the role of DOEs in Australia’s future power system.  Read the latest outcomes summary report about the use of DOEs for export management and the actions needed to implement a nationally consistent model for DOEs that will work in consumers’ interests.

• Monash University is partnering with global technology and consulting company Indra for the Smart Energy City project to develop a grid interactive microgrid at Monash University’s Clayton campus. This will maximise the use of DER and loads in a coordinated way through Indra’s OneSait AGM technology platform and development of a Transactive Energy Market. Read the project’s Introductory Report.
   
• United Energy is investigating the technical and commercial feasibility of using pole-mounted batteries connected to the low voltage network to manage constraints and increase the hosting capacity of renewables. Read United Energy’s second lessons learnt report.

Solar PV R&D

• SunDrive aims to revolutionise industrial solar cell manufacturing by replacing the use of silver with copper, which is much more abundant and cheaper. Read SunDrive’s first lessons learnt report about the challenges and solutions they have found on the path to achieving world-record cell efficiencies. 
   
• Macquarie University has initiated a project that aims to reduce the cost of current silicon solar photovoltaics (PV) manufacturing technology through the development and application of novel production line equipment. This would be based on low-cost consumer electronics technology such as microwave heating, flat-bed scanners and thermal imagers. Read more about Macquarie University’s interim results. 
   
• A team of ANU researchers are working to design and demonstrate ‘tandem’ solar cells using processes and methods that can be easily transferred to manufacturing.  This would enable the manufacturing of high efficiency monolithic silicon-perovskite tandem cells with a standard commercial silicon wafer. Read about the ANU project’s challenges and lessons learnt.

Electric Vehicles

• The Realising Electric Vehicle-to-Grid Services project seeks to unlock the full economic and grid benefits of vehicle-to-grid (V2G) services in Australia. Newly available EVs that support V2G functionalities (i.e. communicate with the electricity grid) create opportunities for EVs to enhance grid resilience and energy reliability and security. Read the latest report that analyses the current state of technology uptake, gaps and opportunities. 
   
• The Metro Advertising Revenue Funded Electric Vehicle Charging Trial by Jolt Charge is designed to test and develop a model for advertising supported charging in Australia. Read about Jolt’s lessons learnt on the complexities of grid connections, high voltage cabling and existing underground infrastructure.

Hydrogen

• BOC Australia is building a green hydrogen production facility and refuelling station on Bulwer Island near Brisbane.  Read BOC’s first lessons learn report which describes some of the challenges being encountered in this early stage of the green hydrogen industry in Australia.

Hybrid Power Systems

• Alinta Energy has constructed a 60 MW AC Solar Photovoltaic (PV) power station to supply electricity to Fortescue Metal Group’s (Fortescue) Chichester Hub mining operations, connected to Alinta’s Pilbara inland power system. The Project is the first example of large-scale renewables in both low inertia grids and remote mining operations in Australia. Read about Alinta’s lessons learnt from the design, procurement and construction phases of the project.