On behalf of the Australian Government, the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has recently 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.
Three businesses which are so far confirmed for full feasibility are (i) McCain in Ballarat, Victoria Food processing; (ii) Simplot in Devonport, Tasmania Food processing; and (iii) Lion in Adelaide, South Australia Brewing.
The sites will test commercially available technologies not widely used in Australia that have significant potential to optimize the application of process heat in manufacturing, while increasing the uptake of renewable energy.
A full feasibility study and business case for all five sites will be completed by the end of 2019. If proven to be feasible, the projects will be eligible to apply for further ARENA grant funding to implement the renewable alternatives for energy generation.