RE: Aus Industry Clean Technology Innovation Grants
Hamish Fletcher
Hi All, I noticed in my local paper that the Aus Industry ‘Clean Technology Innovation Grants’ road show was coming to Shepparton.
I wrote to them to enquire if they are funding any small scale Bio Gas plant projects for domestic use. Their rep said he wasn’t sure but encouraged me to apply.
I’m wondering if anyone in the network has any funding from these folks for small scale Bio Gas Production projects, designed to manage animal waste on small farms and use the gas to run hot water units etc.
For those interested I have included the link.
Cheers
Hamish
http://www.ausindustry.gov.au/programs/CleanTechnology/CleanTechnologyInnovation/Pages/default.aspx
Hamish Fletcher | Director Service Development
Primary Care Connect
399 Wyndham Street |PO Box 1167 Shepparton VIC 3632
T: (03) 5823 3200 | F: (03) 5823 3299
W: www.primarycareconnect.com.au
From: australian-...@googlegroups.com
[mailto:australian-...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Paul Harris
Sent: Monday, 13 August 2012 5:36 PM
To: australian-...@googlegroups.com
Subject: Fwd: Re: {AusBG} BioGas in the News
G'day All,
The message below is sent on behalf of Jurg Keller - I will fix his address so he can post directly.
If you change your e-mail address you can remove your old address (if you will not be using it - if you want two addresses and only one copy you can set one address to "nomail") and resubscribe (I will still have to approve it).
Happy Digesting,
HOOROO
Mr Paul Harris BEng (Ag) (Melbourne)
Visitor at The University of Adelaide
This is an interesting discussion on the power generation capacity at AUS wastewater treatment plants. I am constantly watching what is being achieved in different parts of the country but so far I'm only aware of one (secondary treatment) plant that is actually achieving complete energy self-sustainability, which is Melbourne's WTP (Werribee). This case is somewhat different from most plants though in that they have up-front large anaerobic ponds with covers to capture the methane, then followed by an activated sludge plant.
Do any others (maybe the new Bolivar?) actually get to generate enough energy to power the whole plant? I know some in Europe achieve this (without the anaerobic ponds), but not sure any in AUS are close or there yet except Melbourne (and some primary tmt plants in Sydney). Any suggestions welcome.
Jurg
Prof Jurg Keller FTSE, IWA Fellow
Director, Advanced Water Management Centre
Level 4, Gehrmann Building, Research Road
The University of Queensland QLD 4072, Australia
CRICOS Provider Number: 00025B
From:
Paul Harris <paul....@adelaide.edu.au>
Reply-To: "australian-...@googlegroups.com" <australian-...@googlegroups.com>
Date: Sunday, 12 August 2012 9:52 PM
To: "australian-...@googlegroups.com" <australian-...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: {AusBG} BioGas in the News
G'day All,
Bolivar Sewerage Plant in Adelaide is already biogas powered (when the generator runs).
All the best,
HOOROO
Mr Paul Harris BEng (Ag) (Melbourne)Visitor at The University of AdelaideOn 12/08/2012 3:12 PM, richard wrote:
Hi All
Noticed a couple of recent articles of interest. The first is from NASA, it appears that biogas is on their agenda as possibly the most reliable sauce of fuel. I downloaded a couple of papers on their shuttle experiments, which are interesting. In space you need a centrifuge to separate the gas from the microbe.
The second one is a buzz. I’d be interested to hear of any ideas on how to employ the electricity. Also, if electro microbes and or static is an issue when concentrating methane.
A critter that can self replicate, make and detonate gas is a force to be reckoned with.
Enjoy!
NASA's Morpheus test lander crashes and burns
‘It features a new propulsion system with oxygen and methane, both considered green fuels that are better for the environment than the rocket fuels NASA usually uses. They could be manufactured on other planets as well, according to the space agency.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-08-10/nasa27s-morpheus-test-lander-crashes-and-burns/4190494
electro-microbiology,
Sewage-munching microbes to power plants
Microbes used to treat human waste might also generate enough electricity to power whole sewage plants, scientists hope.
The technology is based on the relatively new science of electro-microbiology, which is finding uses for the discovery that certain microbes can generate an electrical current outside their own cells
The same technique could see microbes used to generate biofuels, hydrogen gas, methane and other valuable chemicals from the cheap and abundant product of our trips to the bathroom, say Logan and fellow researcher Korneel Rabaey from the University of Queensland.
http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2012/08/10/3565076.htm#artBookmarks
Richard Brew Director I B.Arch ACAA 173 I M. 0433 633 712
ric...@arqua.com.au
Hi Hamish
We are working full time on the development of a small scale bio gas plant that may one day provide gas for heating hot water, but at this stage we are working towards waste minimisation, hazard reduction, water treatment, waste recovery. These are the big areas of economic gain with bio gas being more of a useful bio product with greater environmental benefits when captured, safely stored and burned for a useful purpose.
We are looking to ausindustry for grants in the future, however, they have a mixed bag of offerings and despite all the best intentions of their team of hardworking and extremely helpful staff, the grants still have high entry thresholds, capital co-contribution levels and first party pecuniary interest exclusions that baffle the sane mind and are really aimed at business with at least 1 Million turnover working in partnership with a university.
The net effect is that it is extremely difficult for small to medium enterprises / entrepreneurs to develop a product organically. I should add that this is no fault of the department, it is more the woeful budget allocation of 200 million when compared with $24.8 billion in four years from the carbon tax.
So much for think global act local. Having said that, part of the fun of being on a forum is having someone else offering an alternate opinion and learning from being soundly rebuked.
Do ya Best!
