Closed Loop nutrient-rich soil improver , Deakin University ’ s Waurn Ponds Estate , Geelong
Deakin installed a closed loop food composter built by Australian business Closed Loop . The composter converts up to 60 kilograms of food waste per day ( everything but large bones , mollusc shells and cooking oils ) into nutrient-rich soil improver , reducing the original waste volume by 90 per cent .
Food and garden organic material make up 60 per cent of landfill waste . Through this project , Deakin is reducing food waste to landfill and returning organic goodness to the kitchen garden at their Waurn Ponds Estate , a conference and events venue on the campus .
Materials substitution creating superplastic North Geelong manufacturer Polymeric Powders recycle tyres destined for landfill to create enhanced super-plastics for injection-moulding .
The end-of-life tyres are ground up , treated and bonded with traditional injectionmoulding plastics . Items using the new material are more shock absorbent , with higher crack and thermal resistance than items made from traditional plastics .
Cleantech Innovations Geelong funded market research to help Polymeric Powders identify Australian customers for the new raw material and forecast sales volumes .
This enabled Polymeric Powders to target manufacturing and research partnerships more effectively , and manage their manufacturing capability more accurately . The project contributed to the establishment of a manufacturing plant in Geelong .
Growing smarter with new technology Cleantech Innovations Geelong supported local startup STRUT to develop a smart monitoring system that tracks soil moisture , soil and air temperature , and humidity .
This Internet of Things product collects information about soil and air conditions through sensor nodes plugged into the ground .
Data is sent to a central database where users can view regular updates on any device connected to the internet . The data collected by STRUT ’ s smart system provides valuable insights to help increase water efficiency and enhance climate resilience .
Cleantech Innovations Geelong supported STRUT to field test the smart system with Greater Geelong businesses Boundary Bend Olives and Leura Park Estate . Field test feedback generated increased sales of STRUT ’ s smart system .
Improving renewable energy for heating commercial facilities Cleantech Innovations Geelong grant funding enabled small business Capricorn Power to test and improve biochar ’ s efficiency as an energy and heating feedstock . Capricorn ’ s project focussed on sites such as municipal swimming pools and leisure centres .
With this funding , Capricorn Power constructed a demonstration of their Barton Engine in North Geelong . This project is one of four clean technology demonstrations commissioned by Cleantech Innovations Geelong during 2020 – 21 .
Circular Economy Business Growth Program Cleantech Innovations Geelong recently provided a grant to Regional Innovation for a Circular Economy ( RICE ). RICE is a newly formed not for profit working to catalyse circular economy innovation in the Barwon South West region of Victoria . It focuses on capability building and assisting businesses to take practical steps to circularity .
The grant allowed RICE to subsidise up to 20 local businesses to participate in a Circular Economy Business Growth Program , delivered by Runway , a notfor-profit that builds the capability of entrepreneurs to be successful .
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