$110K for cleaner power plants

The federal government is providing $110,000 to a South Australian company to help it create software to improve boiler efficiency in coal-fired power plants, which causes 80 per cent of the electricity industry’s greenhouse gas emissions in Australia.

IPACS Power joins Tasmanian firms Definium Technologies and Saturn South to receive funding under the government’s $200 million Clean Technology Innovation Program, which provides grants of between $50,000 and $5 million.

The company’s software will detect the build-up of combustion by-product or “slag” on the tubes of coal-fired boilers, which is a major contributor to power overall efficiency.

“The technology involves clever high-speed computing systems and the use of data collection via short-wave infra-red cameras and monitors, removing the guess work from determining slag build-up in these huge boilers,” said Greg Combet, the Minister for Industry and Innovation.

IPACS’ Dr Vinay Sriram is leading the development team, which is being supported by Alinta Energy and the University of South Australia.

Earlier this week, Launceston-based Definium Technologies received $134,135 to help it develop technology aimed at reducing the cost of power in commercial buildings.

Saturn South also received $115,000 to assist with the future development of products that enables businesses and households to monitor their energy consumption and identify wasteful usage patterns.

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