Three green trends from clean tech competition finalists

Seven finalists have been announced for the 2012 Australian Clean Technologies Competition, with a range of ideas covering everything from green manufacturing to improving crop care.

The Australian Clean Technologies Competition, linked to the Cleantech Open in the United States, is part of the Federal Government’s Buy Australian at Home and Abroad campaign.

Now in its second year, the competition is designed to bolster the chances of success for Australian clean technology innovators through mentoring, business coaching and marketing.

John O’Brien, managing director of Australian CleanTech, which oversees the competition, says 103 companies entered this year, and 30 went into the semi-finals.

“The companies got access to an experienced team of mentors, judges and coaches to position their business for success,” O’Brien said in a statement.

The seven finalists were chosen for showing the greatest global potential based on three key criteria: technology, market and business plan.

These are some key trends among the finalists:

1. Green manufacturing

SkyCool has created new technology enabling low-cost, highly effective building cooling.

It manufactures a cool-roof coating that reduces the internal temperatures of public buildings, such as shopping malls, typically saving 30-50% of a building’s air conditioning energy.

Tropiglas Technologies is developing energy-generating glass technology that will have market entry as a clear, low-emissions glass for the automotive and building industries.

The technology blocks infrared and ultraviolet radiation and associated heat whilst allowing visible light through.

VR TEK Global has developed a process to turn tyre waste into high-value, very fine de-vulcanised and activated rubber powders.

These powers can be used to economically replace virgin material in the manufacture of high-end products in the areas of rubber, plastics and elastomers.

2. Crop care

Advanced Plant Nutrition has developed MaxSil, an innovative product made from post-consumer waste glass, which will reduce the amount of waste being taken to landfill, and can be used to significantly increase plant nutrient uptake and increase crop yields by up to 25%.

MaxSil has also demonstrated the capacity to reduce carbon-intensive phosphate inputs by up to 50%.

Biofiba is a composite comprising 100% natural organic matter sourced from commercially grown, renewable, non-food crops.

These crops are processed and extruded into a simulated timber plank as an alternative to timber, plastic, cardboard and polystyrene in the manufacture of biodegradable export shipping pallets.

3. For the home

Aeratron has developed a fan design with increased airflow efficiency, reducing energy use by up to 50% on air conditioning. The design, which can be retrofitted, also reduces noise.

enLighten Australia designs and supplies highly efficient LED lighting for commercial, industrial and residential strata applications.

Compared with traditional fluorescent lighting, this form of lighting can reduce energy consumption by up to 93%.