Efficient large-scale power generation from geothermal and other low-grade heat sources is a step closer with the release of a revolutionary new technology platform. Called GRANEX, the technology delivers higher thermal efficiencies than conventional power plants and increases the amount of electricity that can be generated from low-grade heat sources such as geothermal and industrial waste heat.
A 100 kilowatt pilot plant will be opened at the University of Newcastle's Callaghan campus by the NSW Minister for Mineral Resources, Peter Primrose MLC, and the NSW Minister for the Hunter, Jodi McKay MP. The pilot plant will allow for a comprehensive power generation program over a wide range of operating conditions.
"Over the past four years a team of researchers led by Professor Behdad Moghtaderi from the University's Priority Research Centre for Energy have worked in partnership with Granite Power Pty Ltd (GPL) on the GRANEX technology platform, developing and studying a one kilowatt proof-of-concept power plant. "The one kilowatt model was a great success and demonstrated a 40 per cent improvement in terms of thermal energy efficiency and power generation," Professor Behdad Moghtaderi said. "It demonstrated for the first time an effective and economically viable technology platform for power generation from low-grade heat sources and has allowed us to scale up the project to the 100 kilowatt pilot plant. "Our work from here will allow us to establish the parameters to design and build a power plant of any size based on the GRANEX concept and put to use valuable heat sources that would otherwise be wasted."Professor Moghtaderi said, if harnessed, geothermal and waste heat energy could be used to meet the demand of the Australian electricity market for years to come. "Geothermal energy has clear environmental advantages over other renewable energy sources as it has no CO2 emissions and can provide baseload electricity," Professor Moghtaderi said.
GPL Managing Director Stephen de Belle said the performance of GRANEX would transform the power generation sector, and was a huge credit to Professor Moghtaderi, his team and the University of Newcastle. "The existing recovered industrial waste heat market and the growing demand for low-cost, green, basedload geothermal power means there is a large and increasing market in Australia and internationally for GRANEX," Mr de Belle said. "It will have significant and very positive implications for employment and exports."
Several major power companies and industrial companies have already expressed a keen interest in the GRANEX technology for waste heat recovery programs. When testing is complete, the 100 kilowatt pilot plant will likely be relocated to Vales Point Power Station for further investigations.
JOIN THE POPSCI AU FACEBOOK GROUP
Popular Science Australia - reporting on the intersection of science, technology and everyday life. Whether you want to learn about high tech gadgets, find science projects, read the latest space news or search for the best computers or best digital cameras...you'll find it at PopSci.com.au
i think you guys should read each others articles before you post new ones
the article below this one noted that 2 kilowatts were barely enough to power a coffee maker, suggesting osmotic power is not ever likely to be a viable technology for the price. yet at the same time this articles seems to support geothermal unconditionally despite not mentioning the cost of setting up a single plant.
osmotic power according to the below article qoutes $7-8 million presently and suggests ways the output could be doubled by increasing salinity, whereas this article not only does not give any opinion, but only includes positive quotes towards the company involved, instead of a mix.
one can only question the journalistic methods of the author of the geothermal article when making a comparrision between the two. not to mention that it is linked to a "future then" article rather than another power generation related article
2 kw is required to boil a coffee.
but in relation to every appliance the kettle is like sending a nasa rocket to the moon.
i have solar panels rated at 1 kw and on a daily basis it trumps my power useage.
it can power 2x of my useage.
so 100kw equals roughly 100 eco homes.
87.6Mwh per year.