A GEELONG engineering company will pioneer a hydrogen-based cremation process that could revolutionise Australian industries’ energy consumption.<\/p>\n
North Geelong’s Australian Engineering Solutions (Austeng) will partner with Geelong Cemeteries Trust (GCT) for a new project to convert gas-fired crematorium furnaces to a blend of renewable hydrogen, aiming to reduce the environmental impact of the energy-intensive cremation process.<\/p>\n
The plan will involve a feasibility study into the new technology followed by a prototype demonstration, then a knowledge sharing program targeting industry, the community and stakeholders.<\/p>\n
If successful, the new technology would then extend to other types of fuel-fired furnaces and support their industries to transition away from fossil fuel use.<\/p>\n
“The potential is enormous,” Austeng managing director Ross George said.<\/p>\n
“This project is specifically for the death care industry but the developments we make will be applicable to many other gas-fired industrial appliances.”<\/p>\n
The plan would initially target a hydrogen-gas blend for the medium term to encourage uptake while Australia’s hydrogen industry develops.<\/p>\n
“It will create a demand for renewable hydrogen but if there is a supply gap in the initial stages the users won’t face any business interruption because they can still keep running on gas,” Mr George said.<\/p>\n
Mr George also predicted the pioneering project would stimulate local manufacturing capability in the hydrogen industry, placing them at the forefront as an exporter of the growing technology.<\/p>\n
GCT chief Darryl Thomas welcomed the transition plan and said his organisation was “gratified” to take a leadership role in promoting environmental change.<\/p>\n
“This project is a terrific example of collaboration between Geelong organisations toward a common goal to improve environmental outcomes for the crematoria industry and beyond,” he said.<\/p>\n
The proposal has support from the state government, which provided $100,000 from a hydrogen preparedness fund to back the estimated $240,000 work.<\/p>\n
The government’s previous hydrogen investment has included a $1-million injection for a New Energies Service Stations project at Corio’s Viva Energy refinery.<\/p>\n
The $29-million plan would create an industrial-sized electrical vehicle charging station and develop a hydrogen refuelling station to power an array of heavy vehicles, with an eye to developing the technology for use by trains, ships and aircraft.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A GEELONG engineering company will pioneer a hydrogen-based cremation process that could revolutionise Australian industries’ energy consumption. North Geelong’s Australian Engineering Solutions (Austeng) will partner with Geelong Cemeteries Trust (GCT) for a new project to convert gas-fired crematorium furnaces to a blend of renewable hydrogen, aiming to reduce the environmental impact of the energy-intensive cremation […]<\/p>\n