Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA)
On behalf of the Australian Government, the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has today announced $460,500 in funding to the Australian Alliance for Energy Productivity (A2EP) to investigate opportunities for using renewables in process heating in manufacturing.
Process heating accounts for the largest share of onsite energy use in Australian manufacturing. Low temperature processes offer the greatest opportunity for displacing fossil fueled heat with renewably powered alternatives.
The $900,500 project has undertaken ten pre-feasibility studies at sites across Tasmania, South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales, and five of these sites are to be chosen to progress to a full feasibility study.
Three businesses which are so far confirmed for full feasibility are:
• McCain in Ballarat, Victoria – Food processing
• Simplot in Devonport, Tasmania – Food processing
• Lion in Adelaide, South Australia – Brewing
The sites will test commercially available technologies not widely used in Australia that have significant potential to optimise the application of process heat in manufacturing, while increasing the uptake of renewable energy.
Applications considered include electrification with a focus on heat pumps powered by renewable electricity and direct renewable heating options including biomass / biogas and associated storage.
A full feasibility study and business case for all five sites will be complete by the end of 2019. If proven to be feasible, the projects will be eligible to apply
/Public Release.
