- WA's GreenTech Hub has announced the five 'Champions' from its first Challenge 'Long Game Energy Storage'
- The initiative supports the development of reliable, lowemissions energy storage technologies for remote and energyintensive industries and communities
- The Challenge attracted 31 local and international submissions, resulting in 12 finalists vying for the accolade of 'Challenge Champions'
Western Australia's GreenTech Hub has announced the five Champions of its first innovation challenge, recognising technologies that could help address energy challenges unique to the State.
Allegro Energy, BroadBit Batteries, e-Zinc, Isothermix and Knode were selected following a rigorous judging process, based on their technical robustness, alignment with WA's energy storage needs, and potential for deployment locally.
Judges also recognised one promising early-stage Western Australian technology, CO Onboard, for its high potential among emerging solutions.
The GreenTech Hub, hosted by Curtin University and established under a four-year, $40 million Lower Carbon Grants Program and GreenTech Hub funding agreement between the State Government and the Chevron-operated Gorgon Joint Venture, aims to accelerate the development and deployment of green technology solutions throughout the State.
The Hub's first of seven challenges, focused on long-duration energy storage (LDES), sought new and emerging technologies capable of supporting reliable, efficient and low-emissions energy systems across WA's remote operational sites and communities.
LDES has been identified as critical to supporting WA grid reliability, regional and remote power systems and energy-intensive industries. WA's resource sector is increasingly seeking long-duration storage solutions to reduce reliance on diesel and other fossil fuels, lower operational costs, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Interest in the Challenge was strong, with 31 submissions received from across Australia, Asia, Europe and North America. Submissions were assessed by an independent judging panel including representatives from CSIRO, Fortescue, Woodside, Worley and other organisations.
Following a detailed technical and commercial evaluation, 12 finalists were selected. These finalists were hosted by the GreenTech Hub during West Tech Fest in Perth in December, where they pitched their solutions at a live event. The final five Champions will receive a co-designed program of support from the GreenTech Hub connecting them with wider stakeholders in WA to progress their high impact enterprises.
For more information, visit: www.greentechwa.com
Comments attributed to Science and Innovation Minister Stephen Dawson:
"The Cook Government is supporting innovators here and around the globe to solve the challenges of long-term energy storage.
"The champions of this Challenge demonstrate the strength of Western Australia's innovation ecosystem and our capacity to develop solutions tailored to the State's unique energy needs.
"These technologies show real potential to support more reliable, efficient and loweremissions energy systems across regional and remote operations.
"Longduration energy storage will play a critical role in helping industries reduce reliance on fossil fuels while improving competitiveness as global markets transition to cleaner technologies."
As stated by Energy and Decarbonisation Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson:
"This Challenge has supported researchers and businesses to bring forward ideas that can make a meaningful contribution to the energy transition."
"The GreenTech Hub continues to be a valuable facility for accelerating the development and testing of lowcarbon technologies.
"The strong response to this Challenge highlights the depth of local and international capability, as well as the importance of partnerships between government, industry and the global research sector in driving energy innovation."
Challenge Champions:
- Allegro Energy - Australian innovatorsin Microemulsion Flow Battery (MeFB) combining Australian-made innovation with a patented microemulsion electrolyte to deliver long-duration energy storage;
- BroadBit Batteries- Finnish innovators with a new sodium-based LDES solution that can achievegreater material efficiencies, cost reduction and lower emissions than current alternatives;
- e-Zinc- Canadian innovators with a breakthrough LDES technology using a proprietary zinc-air energy storage system;
- Isothermix - Australian innovators whose ChillBank uses intelligent systems and highly optimised phase change proprietary materials to store renewable energy as heat;
- Knode- WA-based innovators whose proprietary MGA thermal blocks can be flexibly charged through electrically powered resistance heaters or by capturing waste heat from existing processes; and
- The promising early-stage technology recognised is CO2 Onboard, WA-based developers of an innovative and simplified system architecture capable of producing power, using methanol simultaneously capturing high purity CO2 that can be used for e-methanol/e-fuel production, closing the carbon loop.
