Hot on the heels of Science Week (16th -24th August) comes the 2014 Premier’s Science Awards. National Science Week is Australia’s annual celebration of science and technology and thousands of individuals get involved, taking part in more than 1000 science events across the nation.
There are many activities happening across the state with interests ranging from marine biology to astronomy. There’s been some pretty amazing scientific developments made in this country of ours, even in our own backyard.
Murdoch PhD student, Tobias Prosin is a finalist in the Premier’s Science awards. Tobias is a concentrated solar thermal (CST) engineer who is pioneering the introduction of this new field of renewable energy technology in Western Australia. CST is an up-and-coming renewable energy technology which could be deployed on a large scale.
“CST is fundamentally different from solar photovoltaic rooftop panels as it does not directly generate electricity, rather CST operates using the sun’s heat energy by collecting and concentrating sunlight with mirrors,” Tobias said.
“This heat energy can then be utilised to generate electricity in the same way that heat energy is released from burning fossil fuels, or nuclear reactions, using the same conventional power plant.”
The benefits from this type of renewable technology could be ground-breaking and with Australia’s harsh summer conditions, the sun’s energy could be used in an unprecedented way.
The research Tobias is introducing in Australia concerns a new type of CST solar capturing receiver technology, the solid particle receiver (SPR).
“The SPR is to be located at the top of a solar tower to absorb concentrated solar radiation reflected from a heliostat mirror field,” he said.
This is the first project of its kind to be launched in Western Australia. The 2014 Premier’s Science Awards feature four categories across scientific research and engagement. The winner of each category will receive a cash prize of up to $50 000. Other finalists include several students and professors from Universities across the state and the winner will be decided on the 21st August.
For information on what is happening in your region, hit up www.scienceweek.net.au.
C.Reynolds
