Aurora Biofuels, Green Rock Energy and the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder are set to share in $8 million in state government funding for new low emission energy projects.
Aurora Biofuels, Green Rock Energy and the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder are set to share in $8 million in state government funding for new low emission energy projects.
Aurora will receive $2 million towards a project to source CO2 from a major industrial plant in the Karratha region for use as feedstock for algal production, with subsequent production of biodiesel and other algal products.
Green Rock Energy will receive $5.4 million towards its project for the commercial demonstration of direct use of geothermal energy in hot sedimentary aquifers to replace electricity for building air-conditioning at The University of Western Australia.
The City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder has been granted $559,000 for a project to install ground source heat pumps, paired with solar photovoltaic panels, to provide renewable energy for pool heating at local swimming pool.
Environment Minister Donna Faragher said the funding is subject to these companies matching every $1 of State Government funds with at least $3 from elsewhere.
"This will lead to a direct total investment of $38million in low-emissions technology in Western Australia," she said.
Energy Minister Peter Collier said if the projects led to commercial scale developments, they would potentially save millions of tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions.
"The projects would help cut our greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to the national target of 20 per cent renewable energy by 2020," he said.
See joint statement from Environment and Energy Minister below:
The State Government would invest almost $8million in three new low-emissions energy projects in Perth, Kalgoorlie-Boulder and Karratha.
Environment Minister Donna Faragher and Energy Minister Peter Collier today announced in-principle funding from the Low Emissions Energy Development (LEED) Fund for Aurora Biofuels Pty Ltd, Green Rock Energy Ltd and the City of Kalgoorlie- Boulder.
"The funding is subject to these companies matching every $1 of State Government funds with at least $3 from elsewhere," Mrs Faragher said.
"This will lead to a direct total investment of $38million in low-emissions technology in Western Australia."
Aurora Biofuels Pty Ltd will receive $2million towards a project to source CO2 from a major industrial plant in the Karratha region for use as feedstock for algal production, with subsequent production of biodiesel and other algal products.
Green Rock Energy Ltd will receive $5.4million towards its project for the commercial demonstration of direct use of geothermal energy in hot sedimentary aquifers beneath the Perth metropolitan area to replace electricity for building air-conditioning at The University of Western Australia's Crawley campus.
The City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder has been granted $559,000 for a project to install ground source heat pumps, paired with solar photovoltaic panels, to provide renewable energy for pool heating at the Kalgoorlie-Boulder Oasis Recreation Centre.
"The Government's investment gives the companies a platform to explore the benefits of algal biofuel production, geothermal power and hybrid energy systems," Mrs Faragher said.
Mr Collier said if the projects led to commercial scale developments, they would potentially save millions of tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions.
"The projects would help cut our greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to the national target of 20 per cent renewable energy by 2020," he said.
This latest investment follows last year's announcement of $12.5million in State Government funding support for the demonstration of a wave energy facility which Carnegie Wave Energy Limited has under construction near Garden Island.
The State Government has also invested $1.5million in the development of an Oil Mallee harvesting machine by the Future Farm Industries CRC.
Mrs Faragher said the projects would help commercialise promising new technologies for the energy sector that would result in the State becoming a world leader in sustainable low emission solutions.
"The LEED Fund is an important part of the State Government's commitment to address climate change in WA," she said.
Mrs Faragher said the Government would finalise contracts with the selected companies, allowing funds to be distributed once agreed milestones had been reached.
"I look forward to continuing to work with industry to deliver practical climate change solutions for the WA community," she said.
