A thermovoltaic device that will convert infrared energy from waste heat sources into electricity is being developed by the University of South Australia (UniSA) and a green technology company in collaboration with the Innovative Manufacturing Cooperative Research Centre (IMCRC).
The $314,000 research project, based at UniSA’s Future Industries Institute (FII) in Adelaide, will leverage the green tech company’s existing beta-voltaic technology and adapt it to create an efficient cost-effective device known as ‘GenT’.
Waste heat capture and utilisation technology has been identified as a growth area on the Recycling and Clean Energy National Manufacturing Priority Roadmap and represents a key strategy for improving energy efficiency across Australia.
The Managing Director of the tech company stated that the firm was excited to be working with IMCRC and UniSA’s FII to develop a product set to advance energy efficiency across a broad range of industry sectors. He added that the GenT project epitomises the company’s focus, which is to utilise innovative manufacturing and technology to convert underutilised or waste resources into valuable products.
The IMCRC funding will enable the firm to accelerate the commercialisation of its technology by providing the resources we need to construct prototypes and determine their suitability across a range of applications.
UniSA Professor Drew Evans said that FII researchers were looking forward to supporting the company to develop and deliver an Australian technology that has the potential to become a new, renewable energy source for industry. He noted that for UniSA, the GenT project represents a new opportunity for our materials and manufacturing research to drive economic and social impact for our partners and Australia. The GenT project will utilise UniSA researchers expertise in materials R&D to help the company develop a product of significant benefit to Australia’s and the world’s energy sector.
The IMCRC Deputy CEO stated, “The 12-month project is “a great example of how the industry can effectively utilise Australian manufacturing and scientific research expertise to address industry challenges and create scalable solutions to globally relevant issues.”
The global waste heat recovery system market size was valued at US$54.3 billion in 2019 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.8% from 2020 to 2027. Growing concerns about Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions and strict regulations to decrease carbon footprint is projected to be the key driving factors for the growth of the global waste heat recovery system (WHRS) market.
These systems are highly energy-efficient and can generate onsite electricity, as well as reduce overall operational costs. These factors are also likely to boost their demand over the forecast period. Energy-intensive industries including heavy metal manufacturing, chemical, cement, glass, and petroleum refining are some of the key application areas with substantial waste heat recovery potential.
Such systems enable the reuse of flue gases for pre-drying and co-generation in thermal power plants, which increases the thermal efficiency of the system, thereby fuelling the product demand. The presence of major industry participants, such as General Electric and Terrapin, in this region, will further boost the market growth.
The Asia Pacific is projected to be the fastest-growing region at a CAGR of 10.3% over the forecast period. The Asia Pacific was positioned as the largest FDI recipient in the manufacturing sector. Rapid industrialisation along with increasing awareness about the significance of sustainable energy in emerging markets of India and China is likely to bolster the market growth in this region.
