Studies into producing renewable energy from almond waste and the potential for concentrated solar thermal technologies will share in more than $117,000 in funding under the  Emerging Renewables Program.

 

The Almond Board of Australia will receive about $32,000 in Emerging Renewables funding for its $60,000 study into the viability of energy production from almond waste.

 

A second grant of $85,000 to the Australian Solar Thermal Energy Association (AUSTELA) will go towards a $170,000 study of the potential of solar thermal electricity in Australia’s electricity market.

 

Minister for Resources and Energy, Martin Ferguson AM MP, congratulated the grant recipients and said these two grants illustrate the diversity of renewable energy sources available in Australia.

 

“There are a range of renewable energy fuel sources and technologies out there and when it comes to making renewable energy competitive, every technology should be given equal opportunity,” Minister Ferguson said.

 

The Almond Board of Australia study will assess the commercial viability of producing energy from almond processing waste across the almond production industry, in areas such as the South Australian Riverland and Victorian Sunraysia region. 

 

The study is expected to be completed in October 2012 and if positive results come back the Almond Board will have the opportunity to apply for further funding to progress the project through the new Australian Renewable Energy Agency.

 

“This is a great opportunity for a primary industry to investigate ways to reduce its energy use from conventional sources by converting to renewable sources and shows a pathway for other industries to do the same,” Minister Ferguson said.

 

The AUSTELA project aims to promote concentrated solar thermal (CST) technology by identifying the potential economic benefits of deploying the technology in the National Electricity Market and the implications for electricity costs and carbon emissions.

 

The study is expected to be completed in April 2013, with participation from the University of Technology Sydney and University of New South Wales.

 

More information on the Emerging Renewables Program and ARENA is at www.arena.gov.au.