A revolutionary technology platform that can be used for geothermal power generation and waste heat recovery has won a place in the grand final of the ABC television show 'The New Inventors'.
Professor Behdad Moghtaderi and Dr Elham Doroodchi appeared on the show last night with the revolutionary new technology platform 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.
In late 2009 a 100 kilowatt pilot plant was opened at the University's Callaghan campus, following four years of work by a team from the University's Priority Research Centre for Energy and Granite Power Pty Ltd (GPL).
"We developed a one kilowatt model, which demonstrated a 40 per cent improvement in terms of thermal energy efficiency and power generation," Professor Moghtaderi said.
"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 base-load electricity," Professor Moghtaderi said.
Each week 'The New Inventors' presents three inventions that are judged by a three-member panel. Weekly winners advance to the grand final at the end of the year.
For interviews: Professor Behdad Moghtaderi, please contact Katie Porritt in Media and Public Relations.
'The New Inventors' website: http://www.abc.net.au/tv/newinventors/
