Three new clever and creative organisations have started cleantech and circular economy demonstration projects in our region, with support from the City of Greater Geelong.
This brings the total number of clean technology and circular economy demonstrations supported by the City to seven.
Clean technologies are economically viable products services and processes that harness renewable materials and energy sources dramatically reduce the use of natural resources and decrease or eliminate emissions and wastes.
A circular economy continually seeks to reduce the environmental impacts of production and consumption while enabling economic growth through more productive use of natural resources.
New demonstrations
BOOMPower Fulton Hogan and Austeng working with Deakin University have commenced three new demonstrations of clean technologies and circular economy solutions.
BOOM Power Pty Ltd
The team behind the BOOM software-as-a-service platform are working with their ASX-listed strategic partner Bill Identity (Bid) to accelerate the electrification of homes and businesses.
The project will enable households and Small to Medium Enterprises to upload an energy bill and receive a tailored proposal for electrifying their home or business.
The user will answer simple questions about their home or business and receive a tailored plan for electrification of their building including solar battery storage hot water heating and cooling and electric vehicle (EV) charging points. The report will explain upfront the financial costs financial savings and environmental benefits.
Fulton Hogan
Leading construction and roadworks company Fulton Hogan will use biochar sourced from agricultural and organic sites in Greater Geelong to test the viability of using biochar in cold mix asphalt products at their Lara plant.
The testing aims to reduce energy costs create circular economy solutions to a waste product and create a low-carbon pavement material.
Australian Engineering Solutions (Austeng) and Deakin University
North Geelong engineering firm Austeng and Deakin University will use crushed glass and industrial by-products to create a more sustainable alternative to cement-based concrete.
Mixing crushed glass with fly ash and slag the project aims to develop a sustainable geopolymer concrete that meets performance standards for footpaths pavements and floor slabs.
Replacing cement with fly ash can reduce the carbon footprint of concrete by between 30 and 50 per cent and make use of waste fly ash and glass.
Concrete is one of the most consumed materials in the world second to water and its production is responsible for 7 per cent of the world’s CO2 emissions.
Completed demonstrations
In 2021 Capricorn Power Deakin University Focus Pty Ltd and Geelong Sustainability Group Inc. completed clean technology and circular economy projects that address stockpiled landfill household energy use community solar production and renewable energy. The completed projects were selected through an expression of interest process in 2019.
A grant was provided to Capricorn Power to improve the efficiency of renewable energy at municipal leisure centres or other sites using the patented Barton engine. The Barton engine is powered by biochar (created from organic matter such as wood grasses crop residues and manure). This technology can efficiently convert heat from a wide range of sources into reliable electricity such as heating for swimming pools.
A grant was provided to Focus Group Pty Ltd to produce a business case and operational framework to process stockpiled landfill waste providing a circular economy model for the Drysdale landfill.
A grant was provided to Deakin University to install innovative energy efficiency devices in 20 households. The devices minimise total daily energy use reduce energy bills and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The aim is to improve the efficiency of solar panels for households.
A grant was provided to Geelong Sustainability Group Inc. for the early stages of a feasibility study to establish a community owned solar farm in Geelong.
Support for demonstration projects
The new demonstration projects were supported under the City of Greater Geelong’s Community Investment and Support Fund. The City’s Community Grants support groups to undertake projects and activities that benefit our local community and which will help us to achieve the 30-year vision for a Clever and Creative Future.
The completed demonstration projects were supported through Cleantech Innovations Geelong a business and industry support program funded by the City of Greater Geelong the Victorian Government and the Geelong Manufacturing Council.