Senator Kim Carr, Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, has announced more than $2.4 million in Commercialising Emerging Technologies (COMET) grants with 38 innovations each receiving $64,000.

Bendigo company Altaus’s inaudible 1 kW micro wind turbine stands 2 metres tall and can generate electricity with winds of just 5.5 metres a second. The device has only two moving parts which allows it to operate silently and at speeds much lower than conventional turbines.

Newcastle-based company, Sunengy, is marketing its liquid solar array that floats and can be used on hydroelectric dams to generate power. The device has water cooling and electronic sun-tracking to give maximum efficiency as well as a plastic structure to minimise cost.

Other innovations for the energy sector to receive COMET funding include:

Article continues below…

• A steam generator that uses thermo-acoustic pulse combustion technology developed by Envirospray (Aust), of Carbrook, in Queensland. This efficient pulse combustion-unit provides steam energy with a significant reduction in carbon emissions.
• A new technology being commercialised by Crucible Carbon, of Mayfield West in NSW, produces biocrude, biogas and biochar from biomass resources at competitive costs and efficiency.

A COMET Business Adviser will assist the companies with market research and help to develop strategic business plans, IP strategies and working prototypes to bring their products to market.

The COMET Program complements the Government’s Enterprise Connect initiative which provides eligible established small-to-medium enterprises in the manufacturing sector with business assessments at no cost to firms and support to implement business improvement measures