Newcastle venture taps solar power for industrial decarbonisation
CSIRO spinout FPR Energy will build on local solar expertise with $15 million seed funding for high-temperature solar thermal technology
FPR Energy, a Newcastle-based company co-founded by CSIRO, RFC Ambrian, and Osaka Gas, has raised $15 million in seed funding to commercialise advanced solar thermal technology aimed at reducing emissions in heavy industries.
The new venture will focus on particle-based Concentrated Solar Thermal (CST) systems, a technology developed by CSIRO through its Australian Solar Thermal Research Institute (ASTRI) program with support from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA). The technology stores solar energy in ceramic particles, enabling high-temperature industrial processes and long-duration energy storage.
FPR Energy plans to establish a 50 MW thermal demonstration plant incorporating up to 16 hours of thermal energy storage to showcase its potential for use in industries such as minerals refining, steel, cement, and chemical production. The plant will test the viability of replacing fossil fuels in applications requiring heat of up to 1200°C.
CSIRO Energy Technologies Research Director, Dr Daniel Roberts, said, “FPR Energy is building on years of solar thermal research, demonstrating CSIRO’s commitment to supporting emissions reduction using impact-focused science and technology.”
“Diversifying the way we harness Australia’s abundant solar resources will help develop a low-carbon economy and support economic growth and job creation in the Hunter region," he said.
FPR Energy's system builds on CSIRO's existing research into solar thermal technology. A prototype has already demonstrated successful heat storage at 850°C, with capability for 1200°C. The technology uses heliostats to concentrate sunlight onto ceramic particles, which retain the heat for use in industrial processes or electricity generation.
The venture is the latest in a series of projects between CSIRO and RFC Ambrian, following earlier collaborations such as Chrysos, NextOre, and Hadean Energy. Newcastle's longstanding history of supporting renewable energy projects positions it as a key hub for this initiative.
Headquartered at CSIRO’s Energy Centre in Newcastle, FPR Energy aims to leverage local expertise in clean energy technology. The company also plans to expand the application of its CST systems to other high-solar regions, including North and South America, the Middle East, and Africa.
