Woodside Energy has increased its funding of 1414 Degrees‘ SiBox Demonstration Module (SDM) by $750,000, taking the total funding to $2.75 million.
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This takes total grant funding of the SDM project to $4.95m including $2.2m from the Australian Government’s Modern Manufacturing Initiative. It follows the successful commissioning in mid 2023, demonstrating the SDM’s ability to convert electric energy into a controlled very hot air stream for industrial processes.
The SDM is now operating autonomously, showcasing its flexibility to meet a range of industry needs by operating with constant flow rate at outlet temperatures ranging up to 900°C. It provided a stable hot air stream for over six hours at 900°C and over 15 hours at 700°C, drawing from both latent and sensible heat in its SiBrick storage media.
Following successful technology validation, Woodside will consider options for both technology infusion and potential pathways for commercialisation.
1414 Degrees chair Dr Kevin Moriarty said, “Over the next 12 months, we anticipate that SiBox will emerge as a pivotal emissions solution for industrial sectors that manufacture the infrastructure of our societies and electricity generation.
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“With financial support from Woodside and the Australian Government Modern Manufacturing Initiative, we are well-positioned to facilitate industries’ transition to lower carbon energy by providing high capacity high-temperature heat, addressing their unique challenges of high temperature, reliability, and cost-effectiveness.”