Page 8 - Climate Control News magazine April 2023

News
Partnership to manage lithium resources
EDITH COWAN UNIVERSITY (ECU) is part- nering with Australia’s first lithium manufac- turer, Tianqi Lithium Energy Australia (TLEA) and world-leading chemical engineering researchers, to drive a greener, more sustainable future for Australian lithium products.
The three-way collaboration, led by ECU’s professor of chemical engineering, Hongoi Sun, is focused on exploring ways to maximise the use of Australia’s finite lithium resources, which accounted for more than 55 per cent of the annual global lithium supply in 2021.
Lithium hydroxide is a critical chemical ena- bling the decarbonisation of the transport and energy sectors by powering battery electric vehicles and energy storage systems.
Professor Sun’s work on lithium and renew- able energy is recognised globally. He is a dele- gate for Australia to the United States on Hydrogen Research Partnerships and is listed in the top one per cent of researchers cited around the world.
“This partnership on lithium with TLEA is another big leap forward for Australia’s renew- able energies future, and together we are excited to deliver research outcomes in years to come,” Sun said.
Lithium exports are already playing a signifi- cant role in maintaining Australia's run of strong trade surpluses, as illustrated in the recent
Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data. Experts claim Australia will continue to have a key role in supplying lithium to the global
market in coming years.
In May 2022, TLEA produced Australia’s first
battery grade lithium at its plant in Kwinana. The lithium hydroxide monohydrate (LHM) being produced is preferred by battery manufac- turers like Tesla, and the Kwinana refinery now has the capacity to produce 24,000 tonnes per year, per production ‘train’.
Kwinana lithium plant in WA.
The West Australian plant is currently oper- ating one production line or ‘train’ as they are known, with a second partially completed and has the potential to expand to up to four trains.
The Kwinana Plant was specifically designed to produce by-products that will derive the maximum benefit from the spodumene ore con- centrate (residue produced after lithium extrac- tion) sourced from the Talison Lithium Mine, in Greenbushes, the world’s largest, highest grade hard rock lithium deposit.
Energy efficiency grants for RAC upgrades
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT has made available $16 million in grants for a range of energy efficiency projects, including refrigera- tion and air conditioning upgrades.
The grants range from $10,000 to $25,000 and applications close 16 April, 2023.
Australian Refrigeration Council (ARC) CEO,
Glenn Evans, said the government’s objective was to support small and medium businesses to become more energy efficient, ease pressure on their energy bills and reduce emissions.
“Applications are open from 6 March to 19 April 2023, with grants to be issued on a first come first served basis, so it’s important to be
quick,” Evans said. “Opportunities for the
RAC industry are very real, as grants can be used for a range of energy efficiency measures, such as installing heat pumps and improving space and water heating.
“Grants can be used to purchase new equipment to
LEFT: Grants are available for heat pumps and water heating projects.
replace less energy-efficient equipment and decommission the old equipment.”
Eligible projects include installing heat pumps to replace gas, electric heating and dry- ing equipment, gas space or water heating, or replacing an existing air conditioner with a more efficient unit, such as an inverter-driven unit.
In commercial refrigeration, eligible projects include replacing an existing refrigerated dis- play cabinet or refrigeration compressor with a new high efficiency unit, installing night blinds or glass doors on refrigerated spaces, or upgrad- ing the insulation and airtightness of a cool room.
“This is an opportunity to take a real step forward in energy efficiency through a substan- tial government contribution to defray the up- front costs,” Evans said.
“I would urge the climate control sector, along with small and medium businesses everywhere, to take advantage of these grants for their own benefit and that of the environment.”
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