PRESS STATEMENT L  by the M inister for National Development and Energy

85*. 81/74

GRANTS FOR ENERGY RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND DEMONSTRATION

The Minister for National Development and Energy, Senator

J.L. Garrick, today released a list (attached) of projects

approved for support under the 1981/82 component of the National

Energy Research, Development and Demonstration Program. The

total value of the grants was $19.1 million. Senator Garrick

said that he had approved the grants, on the basis of

recommendations submitted by the National Energy Research,

Development and Demonstration Council (NERDDC).

Senator Garrick noted that since the Program commenced in

1978/79, total funds committed amounted to nearly $80 million.

The grants given in previous years, and the level of support

provided this year, clearly demonstrate.the Government's

continuing commitment to a vigorous energy research and Â·

development program as an integral part of its overall energy

policy. .  .

The Minister added that he attributed much of the present

growth in energy R&D expenditure in Australia to the stimulus

provided by the Program. Recently released figures showed

that total annual expenditure (from the public and private

sector) in 1979/80 had increased by 50% over the level of

expenditure in 1978/79. One pleasing aspect of this growth

was that expenditure by industry on energy R&D had risen from

$23 million in 1978/79 to around $40 million in 1979/80.

Senator Garrick stated that the grants announced maintained

the strong support given in previous years to the technology

of synthetic fuels and coal mine site technology, clearly

areas of major importance to future energy developments in

Australia.

.  .  ./2

Some $13.7 million had been devoted to synthetic fuel research .

in the three previous years of the Program;  a further $3.97

million is to be provided this year,  and includes $2.77 million

for coal liquefaction. .

This year coal mine site technology had received $4.16 million,

with special emphasis on improved recovery of coal from underÂ­

ground mines. Senator Garrick stated that the Government was

mindful of the significance of efficient underground mining

techniques in the current and long term utilisation of Australian

coal resources.

Alternative energy research, such as solar, wind and nuclear

energy, received $3.3 million,  while $2.7 million had been

provided for energy conservation technology, including

transportation. Of this only $0.35 million had been recommended

in the important area of energy conservation in industry.

NERDDC considered this area required further emphasis and a .

special advertisement, seeking additional applications for grants

in this specific field, has recently been placed in newspapers.

An amount of $300,000 is allocated in the present grants for the

additional work. Senator Garrick added that some small increases

in the Program were possible, as NERDDC still had a small

number of project assessments to complete.

Senator Garrick highlighted the following projects: .  .

.  $1.1 million to continue the Australian Coal Industry

Research Laboratories (ACIRL) work into the production

of synthetic oil from coal in a continuous reactor; .

.. three separate projects totalling over $1 million for

outburst research and gas drainage.  This work should

yield significant safety and production benefits for

underground coal mines;

.  $977,000 to the Australian Atomic 'Energy Commission for

research into centrifuge enrichment of uranium;

.  $779,000 to the CSIRO for further work on coal liquefaction;

.  .  ./3

$750,000 to the Australian Coal Industry Research

Laboratories (ACIRL) for further work on the carbonising

properties of Australian coals and blends; Â·

$400,000 to continue studies by the Australian Mineral

Industry Research Association of the optimisation of

fragmentation in overburden removal in open strip mining;

$379,000 to ACIRL for monitoring the performance of a

bucket-wheel excavator in a coal mine in the Bowen

Basin, Queensland ;

$355,000 to the State Electricity Commission of Victoria

for a study of the long-term fouling behaviour of low-

rank coal. .

Senator Carrick said that consideration of the large number

of applications had once more required considerable effort by

NERDDC.  Senator Carrick said he greatly appreciated the time

given, and effort made,  by members of the Council, and members

of the Technical Standing Committees, who provide valuable

support to Council Members.  .

. .  3 .

Canberra  11 December 1981

Contact: R. Hopkins (  062). 45 8324 (B H ) '   ( 062). 86 1237 .  (AH)

ÃÂ

NATIONAL ENERGY RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND  DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM (1981/82 - 1983/84) .  APPROVED PROJECTS

Brief Description Recipient Grant $

COAL MINE SITE TECHNOLOGY

Improved Recovery from Underground  Coal Mines .

Methane Drainage .  Australian Coal Industry

Research Laboratories Ltd 443,000

Outburst Research Collinsville Coal Co Pty Ltd 404,807

Two lift thick seam mining.method  employing small pillar design in  Harrow Creek

Utah Development Co , 275,000

Outburst and gas drainage  investigations CSIRO 212,309

Monitoring effects of extraction  of coal under Great Western  Railway at Bell, NSW

Austen and Butta Ltd 202,274

Roof control Australian Coal Industry

Research Laboratories Ltd 140,500

Longwall mining BHP Co Ltd , 104,736

Productivity improvement of underÂ­ ground roadway development Kembla Coal and Coke Pty Ltd 87,400

New' mining methods - single entry Australian Coal Industry  Research Laboratories Ltd .  87,000

Seme design aspects of high  recovery underground coal mining  systems

University of New South Wales 36,557

Simulation of explosion  propagation in coal mines

University of Wollongong :  i6,ooo

Design and application of lighting  systems for underground coal  mining

University of New South Wales '  10,000

Mine ventilation subsequent to  explosions and fires University of Wollongong 6,000

Sub-Total 2,025,583

.../2

2.

Brief Description Ã¢ÂÂ  Recipient Grant $

Surface Mining .

Optimisation of fragmentation in  overburden removal in open strip  mining

Australian Mineral Industries .  . Research Association 400,000

Monitoring system for heavy mobile  open-cut mining equipment  Australian Coal Industry  Research laboratories Ltd .  .

379,000

Stability of spoil piles and high-  walls in deep surface mines CSIRO 211,050

Sub-Total 990,050

Prediction of Seam and Strata Conditions

Use of pre-development data for  mine design .

CSIRO 233,000

In-seam exploration in coal mines  using Vibration measurements BHP Co Ltd 200,000

Natural microseismic studies of  coal mine stability .

BHP Co Ltd 199,400

Standardisation of bore core  descriptions for use in coal mine  geology

New South Wales Institute of . Technology .  Ã¢ÂÂ

36,899

Sub-Total 669,299

Coal Beneficiation

Coal quality control .  CSIRO 195,000

Simulation and control of coarse  coal preparation  University of Queensland 90,106

Coal cleaning by flotation CSIRO 29,575

Improved recovery of fine coal University of New South Wales 26,000 Effect of electrolytic environment  on the dense medium separation of  coal

Western Australian Institute of  Technology  17,209

Hydrocarbon fractions for potential  use as collectors in coal  beneficiation

Shell Chemical (Australia) Pty Ltd 11,829

Sub-Total 369,719

3.

'  Brief Description . Â· Recipient Grant $

Spontaneous Combustion of Coal

Prevention and control of  spontaneous combustion . Australian Coal Industry  Research Laboratories Ltd

104,000

Sub-Total 104,000

TOTAL 4,158,651

SYNTHETIC FUELS

Coal Liquefaction '  .  '  ‘  Ã¢ÂÂ

Synthetic oil from coal Australian Coal Industry  Research Laboratories Ltd 1,100,000

Oil from coal by flash pyrolysis CSIRO 285,118

Catalytic coal hydrogenation for  automotive fuels CSR Ltd - Energy Division 201,750

Investigation of CO-steam process  on Victorian brown coal Victorian Brown Coal Council 196,200

Structural characterisation of  Australian coals CSIRO 173,155

Influence of mesophase and  vitroplast formation on the hydroÂ­ genation of coal

CSIRO 160,130

Hydrogenation of inertinite rich  Australian coals .

CSIRO ' 143,300

Direct hydrogenation of brown coal Monash University Â· 124,997

Preparation of coals for conversion  to liquid hydrocarbons Australian Coal Industry  Research Laboratories Ltd

90,000

Structure of brown coal and its  effect on CO-steam process University of Melbourne 67,137

Modelling of coal liquefaction  reactions Monash University 56,992

Coal to liquid fuel: new fischer-tropsch catalysts Flinders University of South  Australia

55,960

A

Nuclear magnetic resonance  spectroscopy of coal oil shale  and derived liquids

Griffith.University 34,533

Rheology of black coal-oil  suspensions at high temperature '   and pressure

Royal Melbourne Institute of  Technology .

27,100

4.

Brief Description Â· Recipient Grant $

Structure of brown coal and its  effect on hydrogenation process University of Melbourne 20,507

Upgrading of flash pyrolysis tars  by hydrogenation CSIRO . 16,900

Rheology of brown coal slurries University of Melbourne 14,107

. .  '  Ã¢ÂÂ  .  Sub-Total . 2,767,886

Ethanol .

Continuous tower fermentation and  digestion for alcohol production University of Sydney 250,000

Enhanced ethanol tolerance for  zymomonas fermentation process University of New South Wales 161,777

Long term productivity of cassava University of Queensland 150,000

Bioconversion of hemicellulose  to ethanol CSR Ltd - Sugar Division 150,000

Sub-Total 711,777

Other Synthetic Fuels ' Ã¢ÂÂ   -  Â· Ã¢ÂÂ   Â· Â·

Conversion of light hydrocarbons  to synthetic fuel .

BMP Co Ltd . 300,000

Strategies for diesel fuel supply Consultant to be selected (to be determin  by tender)

-Sub-Total 300,000

Methanol

Catalysts to produce methanol  from coal via synthesis gas University of New South Wales 103,760

Optimisation of less energy  intensive routes to methanol University of New South Wales 42,819

Sub-Total 146,579

Oil from Shale *

Environmental effects of oil shale  mining at Rundle CSIRO ‘ 39,150

Sub-Total 39,150

.  TOTAL 3,965,392

5.

Brief Description Â· Recipient Grant $

COAL UTILISATION

Carbonisation .  .

Carbonising properties of  Australian coals and blends Australian Coal Industry  Research Laboratories Ltd

750,000

Effect of alkalis on high  temperature degradation of coke University of New South Wales 96,722

High quality SRC from Victorian  brown coal CSR Ltd - Energy Division 54,500

Sub-Total 901,222

Coal Combustion:  Pulverised Fuel

Study of the long term fouling  behaviour of low-rank coal State Electricity Commission of  Victoria

355,160

Coal abrasiveness Electricity Commission of New

South Wales .

104,000

Study of ignition process in a  single burner jet of a Yallourn  W boiler

State Electricity Commission of  Victoria 92,500

Flow properties of coal for  storage bin design University of Wollongong 76,897

Aerodynamics of burner jets . designed for brown coal-fired  boilers '

State Electricity Commission of  Victoria 23,440

Utilisation and beneficiation  of Esperance lignite CSR Ltd - Energy Division 20,000 .

Sub-total 671,997

Coal Utilisation: Miscellaneous

Surface chemistry of fine coal  processing University of Melbourne 298,949

Determination of physical  properties of brown coal by small  angle x-ray

Royal Melbourne Institute of  Technology 35,000 * Ã¢ÂÂ  Â·  V .

Sub-Total 333,949

Petrographic Analysis

Applied coal and coke petrography Australian Coal Industry  Research Laboratories Ltd 180,000

Characterisation of coal and coke  by automated petrographic analysis BHP Co Ltd '  102,250

6.

Brief Description Â· Recipient" Grant $

Coal quality control in  preparation plants - petrographic  assessment .  .

Australian-Coal Industry  Research Laboratories Ltd

44,500

Sub-Total 326,750

Coal Combustion:  Environmental Aspects

Nitrogen evolution and NOx  formation during combustion of coal University of Newcastle  s '

86,539

Superirrposition Qf short-term  contributions from multiple sources State Electricity Commission of  Victoria

76,290

Environmental aspects of energy  coal usage .

BHP Co Ltd Ã¢ÂÂ  66,000

Reduction of emissions of oxides  of nitrogen and sulphur from  brown coal combustion

State Electricity Commission . of Victoria . 33,103

Measurement of charge on brown coa]  fly ash particles ih electrostatic  precipitators .

State Electricity Commission of  Victoria 26,700

.Sub-Total . 288,632

Coal Gasification

Fluidised bed gasifier/ore  roasting furnace integrated system Environ Mechanical Services  Pty Ltd

133,312

In-situ gasification of coal University of Newcastle" 12,200 .

Sub-Total 145,512

.  TOTAL 2,668,062

SOLAR AND WIND ENERGY

Photovoltaic Cells

Testing, evaluation and demonstratÂ­ ion of solar cell arrays for  communications and other ' applications in remote areas of  Australia

Telecom Australia Â· 282,000

Ultimate performance silicon  solar cells University of New South Wales 173,986

Photovoltaic cells using  electrodeposited films University of Queensland 33,535

Performance monitoring of 5Kw  photovoltaic power supply for a  remote area .  .  Â·

Solar Energy Research Institute  of Western Australia 31,278

.  Sub-Total 520,799

7.

Brief Description Recipient Grant $

Industrial Applications Ã¢ÂÂ   '  -

Conversion of bitumen bulk  storage tank to working tank by  use of solar heating to above  150Â°C ,

Bitupave Ltd 185,000

Solar-thermal desalination  pilot plant University of Sydney . 134,419

Demonstration of a 6M cubed/day  .  solar photovoltaic reverse osmosis  desalination unit

Solar Energy Research Institute  of Western Australia 87,272

Solar powered bore pumping engine University of Adelaide 17,800

.  Sub-Total 424,491

Collector Technology and Testing

Demonstration and further developÂ­ ment of non-tracking concentrators University of New South Wales 116,180

Feasibility study on use of solar  ponds for salt production in the  Melbourne area

University of Melbourne 77,839

Thermal performance and design of  concentrating solar collector  system .

University of New South Wales. 75,749

Prototype solar pond demonstration Australian Solar Ponds 40,357

Construction of a high temperature  solar test loop Solar Energy Research Institute  of Western Australia

37,300

Sub-Total 347,425

Active Heating and Cooling of  Buildings

India-Australia cooperation on  solar energy research: solar refrigeration and air conditioning

James Cook University of North  Queensland Ã¢ÂÂ   '

68,155

Solar air conditioning utilising  evacuated tubes with heat pipe  absorbers

University of Queensland 59,687

Vulcan package solar airÂ­ conditioning system Â· Vulcan Australia Pty Ltd 53,561

.  '  Sub-Total 181,403

- .

8.

Brief Description Â· Recipient Grant $

Solar and Wind Data Acquisition

Radiation,  wind and temperature  monitoring Solar Energy Research Institute  of Western Australia

102,300

Recording of wind data where the  use of wind power would save  liquid fuel. A contribution to a  national wind data survey

Australian National University 64,000

.  Sub-Total 166,300

Wind Energy

Wind energy development at King  Island Hydro-Electric Commission of  Tasmania

100,000

Lord Howe Island: detailed wind and solar energy survey University of New South Wales 21,701

Passive Heating and Cooling of

Sub-Total 121,701

Buildings ,  . . .  .  . .  Â·-Â·Â·..

Passive solar energy housing  technology transfer program University of New South Wales 36,412

Passive solar homes promotion  program University of New South Wales 26,040

Demonstration and monitoring of  project solar housing .

Solar Village Consultants 16,500

Inner-city passive solar retrofit/  addition Sunspot Design — 6,553

.  .  Sub-Total 85,505

Solar Thermal Electric Power Supply

Solar/thermal electric generation  with medium temperatures University of Sydney . 74,549

Sub-Total 74,549

.  TOTAL 1,922,173 ,  .

Brief Description Â· Recipient . Grant $

TRANSPORTATION .

Traffic Management, Monitoring and Related Studies

Reductionof fuel consumption in  passenger cars .Â· .

CSIRO 215,000

Energy savings from traffic  management action: a scientific audit .

.  Australian Road Research Board 161,000

Quantifying motor vehicle fuel  conservation strategies University of Melbourne 142,803

Motor vehicle fuel economy University of Sydney .  39,666 Ã¢ÂÂ

Environmental impact of passenger  transportation in Australian  capital cities

James Cook University of North  Queensland 21,260

Motor vehicle fuel conservation -  data co-ordination and correlation  workshop

Arranged by the Department of  National Development and Energy 20,000

Motor vehicle fuel conservation  and emissions Murdoch University 19,247

Sub-Total 618,976

Fuels in Vehicles

Additives to improve methanol as  a diesel fuel ICI Australia Operations Pty Ltd 148,534

Optimum use of a barrel of oil University of Queensland 122,152

Chemical and physical properties  of seed oils and their modification  for diesel engine fuels

CSIRO ;  85,190

Ethanol petrol blends in Australian  engines Repco Engine Technical Centre 80,000

Demonstration of an urban vehicle  fuelled with' hydrogen stored in  iron titanium hydride

University of Melbourne 69,580 .

Oilseed fuels in diesel engines CSIRO ' Â° 50,000

Enhanced extension of petrol with  aqueous alcohol CSR Chemicals Ltd 25,700

10.

Brief Description Â·  . Recipient Grant $

Evaluation of.coconut oil and  palm oil as diesel fuels and fuel  extenders '  .

Workshop on seed oil research

James Cook University of North  Queensland

.  Arranged by the Department of  '  National Development & Energy  and the CSIRO Sub-Total

18,562

2,000

601,718

Motor Vehicle Design

Evaluation of effectiveness of  catalytic control of emissions  with the Ford Lean B u m  Strategy

Ford Motor Company of Australia  Ltd '

136,000

Aerodynamic drag reduction for  Australian trucks Royal Melbourne Institute of  Technology

99,995

Stratified charge/lean burn engine  development Orbital Engine Company Pty Ltd 57,188

Sub-Total 293,183

Electric and Hybrid Vehicles

Optimum hybrid power plants for  automobiles University of Queensland 232,837

Sub-Total 232,837

'  .  TOTAL 1,746,714

NUCLEAR ENERGY '  .

Uranium Enrichment

Centrifuge enrichment of uranium AAEC Research Establishment . 977,000

Ã¢ÂÂ¢  Ã¢ÂÂ   ' Sub-Total .  977,000

Nuclear Waste Management

Nuclear waste immobilization Australian National University 200,286

Synroc fabrication development AAEC Research Establishment 30>360

.  Sub-Total 230,646 -

Fusion .

Rotamak studies . Flinders University of South

Australia ,

209,825

Sub-Total 209,825

Ã¢ÂÂ   TOTAL 1,417,471

11.

Brief Description Ã¢ÂÂ  Recipient Grant $

FUEL RESOURCE ASSESSMENT

Exploration Techniques - Coal

Borehole logging techniques and  instrumentation for coal and  .  oil shale

Ã¢ÂÂ¢  CSIRO 227,530

High resolution stratigraphic  mapping for coal and oil shale  exploration

CSIRO . 135,700

Hydraulic powered seismic energy  source University of New South Wales 89,370

Sub-Total 452,600

Resource Assessment - Petroleum  and Oil Shale

Queensland energy-resource data  base '  Ã¢ÂÂ

Geological Survey of Queensland 174,000

Petroleum formation temperature:   determination and application to  exploration .

Western Australian Institute of  Technology 82,005

A direct evaluation of potential  petroleum source rocks by . hydrogenation

Macquarie University. 60,930

Sub-Total 316,935

Exploration Techniques - Petroleum and Oil Shale

Application of electrical  prospecting techniques to the  exploration for oil

CSIRO .  105,200

Application of SP and vehicle-  borne magnetics to the exploration  of oil/gas .

CSIRO .  Â· 90,950

Helium determinations as an  exploration technique CSIRO 83,140

Application of GC-MS-DS techniques  to petroleum exploration Western.Australian Institute of  Technology

31,000

Sub-Total 310,290

.. '

l  1

12.

Brief Description Recipient , Grant $

Resource Assessment - Coal

Permian coals of eastern Australia CSIRO and Bureau.  .  ’ of Mineral Resources 71,071

Sub-Total 71,071

TOTAL 1,150,896

ENERGY CONSERVATION

Industry

Industry conservation program Projects to be selected 300,000

Low temperature solid electrolyte  oxygen sensors CSIRO 100,348

Energy conservation in chemical  reactors University of New South Wales 62,495

Commercial utilisation and  evaluation of biogas McCain Australia Pty Ltd 45,440

Drying with low grade energy in a  spouted bed University of New South Wales 44,452

Application of vapocure process to  decoration and protection of  plastic motor vehicle components

Vapocure International Pty Ltd 33,229

Catalytic combustion as a  pollution free thermal energy  source.

University of Melbourne 25,000

Compendium of wood/crop residue  combustion technologies University of Tasmania 22,440

Improvement of the efficiency of  energy use in Australian dairy  factories

Victorian Department of '   Agriculture 21,956

Sub-Total 655,360

Built Environment

Demonstration of computer based  design and audit procedures for  energy consumption in buildings

Enersonics Pty Ltd 87,820 i

Computer based graphical tools  to evaluate thermal performance  in buildings

Nicholson and Partners Pty Ltd 25,500

Use of rotary regenerative heat  exchangers for energy conservation  in buildings

Monash University 24,686

Ã¢ÂÂ¢  Sub-Total 138,006

Ã¢ÂÂ¦ >

13.

;  Brief Description ' Recipient Grant $ .

Other . .

Diesel/battery power supply,  control and power conditioning  ;  system

Hyteic Controls .  ' 95,694

Tillage dynamometer '  " New South Wales Department of . Agriculture Â· .

28,700

.  Sub-Total 124,394 '

.  TOTAL -  917,760

ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL ISSUES

Factors limiting coal production Australian National University . 200,000

Predicting outcomes of energy  conservation policies applicable  to households

Monash University 74,897

Economic data bank of energy .   resources development  University of Melbourne 74,196

The role of infrastructure in the  growth of demand for Australian  energy resources

University of Melbourne 70,428

Urban settlement patterns:  support networks and energy conservation  Australian National University 50,000

Guidelines for energy conservation  in local Government  Municipal Association of Victoria 43,840

Australian energy demand 1980-2030 Griffith University """.. .  37,796

Economics of the motor vehicle and  the future of the car  Macquarie University 37,608

Household transport energy  conservation and implications for  urban policy

University of Melbourne 32,334

Challenge of social adjustment  posed by the changing position of  liquid fuels

Academy of the Social Sciences  in Australia .

30,000

Legal aspects of the practical  application of solar energy  technology in Australia

Victorian Solar Energy Council 29,525

Planning and evaluation of energy  efficient transport systems  University of New South Wales '

Ã¢ÂÂ  Ã¢ÂÂ

20,000

>Â»

14. v '

.  Brief Description .' '  Recipient Grant $'

Optimal petroleum stockpiling  decisions University of New South Wales 16,570

Workshop on economic and social  inpacts of rising liquid fuel  prices on planning, transport  and spatial structure of major  urban areas

To be arranged by the Department  of National Development and  Energy

7,000

.  .  TOTAL 724,194

ENERGY STORAGE Â·

Advanced batteries for traction CSIRO r 253,957

Optimisation of an electric  vehicle lead battery system CSIRO . 66,500

Industrial and solar thermoÂ­ chemical energy conversion Australian National University 24,301

TOTAL 345,258

MAGNETO-HYDRODYNAMICS .

MHD disk generator University of Sydney 67,311

TOTAL 67,311

ENVIRONMENT Ã¢ÂÂ   '

Study on environmental aspects  of coal liquefaction Consultant to be selected To be determine  by tender

.  .  GRAND TOTAL 19,083,882

N

Ã¢ÂÂ¢  '

-  .  '  Â·

