Sunshine, sand and steam: decarbonising industrial heat
Australian industry still burns gas for high temperature process heat because nothing else has delivered firm heat at the right cost. FPR Energy, a Newcastle-based CSIRO spin-out, is out to change that with particle-based concentrated solar thermal.
Wil Gardner, COO and co-founder, will share the journey from research lab to hardtech startup, how falling ceramic particles capture and store solar heat above 800 °C without pressurised containment, and where the technology fits in decarbonising industrial steam and heat.
This event is produced by the Newcastle Electrical College in partnership with the Newcastle Mechanical College.
Who should attend?
Electrical engineers, mechanical engineers, renewable energy proponents, developers and engineers involved in solar energy storage projects.
Learning outcomes
In this presentation you will learn:
Why high temperature process heat is one of the hardest sectors to decarbonise, and where concentrated solar thermal fits.
How particle-based CST captures, stores and dispatches solar heat above 800 °C, and how it compares with molten salt systems limited to around 570 °C.
What it takes to carry a technology from research lab to commercial hardtech startup: prototypes, people, partners and funding.
Practical ways engineers can contribute to Australia's industrial heat transition.
Program
In-person
5.30 pm AEDT: Registration and networking
6.00 pm AEDT: Presentation begins
7.00 pm AEDT: Presentation ends, networking continues
7.30 pm AEDT: Event ends
Online
6.00 pm AEDT: Presentation begins
7.00 pm AEDT: Presentation ends
About the speaker
Wil Gardner
Chief Operating Officer and Co-founder, FPR Energy Limited
