Media Release: $250,000 GRANT FOR LATROBE VALLEY RESEARCH PROJECT

FROM THE MINISTER FOR ENERGY AND RESOURCES

DATE: Thursday, March 29, 2007

$250,000 GRANT FOR LATROBE VALLEY RESEARCH PROJECT

Victoria Minister for Energy and Resources Peter Batchelor today announced a $250,000 grant to research new uses for liquid industrial wastes to avoid them going into landfill.

The $250,000 grant is one of four worth more than $8 million for major research and development projects in sustainable energy.

Mr Batchelor said the Sustainable Energy Research and Development grants program highlighted the Bracks Government’s commitment to thriving, next generation businesses and industries.

“This research highlights the creative and cutting edge work that will be required to tackle the challenges of climate change and a carbon-constrained future,” Mr Batchelor said.

The Australian Sustainable Industry Research Centre, based in the Latrobe Valley, will receive $250,000 for a $500,000 project to investigate the energy efficiency of solvent based fuel derived from recycling industrial liquid wastes.

The research by ASIRC and Geocycle Pty Ltd will seek to reduce the amount of the liquid industrial wastes going to landfill and partially substitute the fossil fuel requirements of the cement and other energy intensive industries.

The other successful projects under the Sustainable Energy Research and Development Grants Program (SERD) announced today are:

· A $6 million grant for a $12 million project headed by Melbourne University to develop and increase the efficiency of organic solar cells as an alternative to silicon based cells in the generation of solar power. The project could lead to the establishment of a centre of excellence in Victoria. The grant partners include Monash University, CSIRO, Securency (including Innovia Films), BP Solar, Merck, Bluescope Steel and NonoVic;

· A $1.2 million grant for a $2.92 million project led by Melbourne University to look at the development of a more efficient hydrogen-fuelled car engine and also the storage of hydrogen. The project team includes the Ford Motor Company of Australia, Haskel Australia Pty Ltd, and the Universities of North Florida, California (Berkley) and Delaware;

· A $650,000 grant for a $1.3 million project led by Monash University to research the recycling of waste plastics for the production of diesel fuel. Monash University will team with Ozmotech Pty to investigate the formation of aromatic compounds in the production of diesel and the stringent standards around their use in the fuel.

The projects are due to be completed by July 2010
For more details on Sustainable Energy Research and Development grants go to www.dpi.vic.gov.au