Conversion of Lignite to Biochars to Enhance Soil Fertility. Lignite, or brown coal, is used in power generation, but it is uneconomic to transport and acts as a significant source of greenhouse gases. The conversion of lignite to liquid fuel and char provides an economic source of fuel and the generation of a char which also lowers the carbon footprint associated with lignite processing. Lignite-derived char has potential to act as an agent for both promoting plant growth and improving soil hea ....Conversion of Lignite to Biochars to Enhance Soil Fertility. Lignite, or brown coal, is used in power generation, but it is uneconomic to transport and acts as a significant source of greenhouse gases. The conversion of lignite to liquid fuel and char provides an economic source of fuel and the generation of a char which also lowers the carbon footprint associated with lignite processing. Lignite-derived char has potential to act as an agent for both promoting plant growth and improving soil health. This project will do much to promote the use of chars, from a lignite source, which will increase the economic viability of mining brown coal. Read moreRead less
Smart metering founding a holistic evidence-based performance evaluation framework and demand forecasting model for diversified water supply schemes. The Australian water industry faces the challenge of catering for the potable water demand of a rapidly expanding population with reduced reliability on supply imposed by an increasingly variable climate. Diversified water supply schemes (DWSS) incorporating decentralised systems or reuse sources are touted as a means to handle the inherent weaknes ....Smart metering founding a holistic evidence-based performance evaluation framework and demand forecasting model for diversified water supply schemes. The Australian water industry faces the challenge of catering for the potable water demand of a rapidly expanding population with reduced reliability on supply imposed by an increasingly variable climate. Diversified water supply schemes (DWSS) incorporating decentralised systems or reuse sources are touted as a means to handle the inherent weaknesses of centralised urban water supply schemes by potentially drawing 30-50 per cent less demand on their reserves. This research study will provide evidence to support the implementation of best practice DWSS based on an evidence based holistic assessment of their performance considering potable water savings, capital and operation costs, energy demand, as well as environmental and community impacts.Read moreRead less