JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #138 - January/February 2021 - 4

MOVING COMPOSITES FORWARD

" Composite
" Composite materials
materials are
are ideally
ideally suited
suited to
to
produce
produce such
such complex
complex shaped
shaped parts "
parts "

JEC Composites Magazine: In just a
few words, could you tell us about
your company and your expertise in
composite materials?

Paul Falzon: Advanced Composite Structures Australia has over
25 years of experience in advanced
composites, with subject matter experts who are known globally for
solving challenging problems in novel
ways. We are recognised and awarded
as one of Australia's leading composites technology organisations, having
worked on a wide range of development programs and commercial contracts with major companies, research
organisations and government entities. We work in multiple industries,
including Aerospace, Automotive,
Oil & Gas, Mining, Renewable Ener-

with

Paul falzon,
General Manager
Advanced Composite
Structures Australia Pty Ltd

gy, Civil Construction, Defence and
Maritime.
Specialising in design, manufacture
and delivery of advanced composite
structures and assemblies, conducted
under ISO 9001 certification, ACS-A
is the ideal partner to help clients gain
a competitive advantage within any
industry.
You're introducing a new model of
a hydro-electric turbine created for
Kinetic NRG, made from composite
materials. What makes it stand out
from earlier models?

P. F.: I think it's important to look

at the bigger picture, food security,
energy security and the environment. Kinetic NRG's energy capture
is focused on fast flowing streams,

irrigation channels and discharge canals, as opposed to traditionally large
dammed reservoirs.
Our design is for an optimal 20-year
design life maximizing durability,
with minimal maintenance. The use
of composite materials greatly benefits this and offers others, such as
weight reduction.

Australia, who harnesses extensively the energy from its
largest waterways, innovates with company Kinetic NRG. It
has introduced a model for a microturbine that allows weaker energy sources to be exploited. Developed by Advanced
Composite Structures Australia (ACS-A), this microturbine
model illustrates the potential yet to be harnessed, as well
as what composite materials can offer in the race to provision energy. ACS-A General Manager Dr Paul Falzon returns
to tell us about this success story.

This microturbine solution offers
the capability to harness previously
untapped low-head hydro from
streams and channels

The use of lightweight composite
materials increases our power to
weight ratio, whilst reducing manufacturing, shipping and installation
costs. This all has a bearing on our
ability to produce energy at competitive prices.
Therefore, reduced material, labour,
and installation costs enable us to
firmly target and achieve a competitive energy cost.
Australia already harnesses the energy of its water sources to generate
electricity. How does your solution fit

Light weight composite turbine
hydro-electric by ACS-Australia
for Kinetic NRG

jec composites magazine / N°138 January - February 2021

JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #138 - January/February 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #138 - January/February 2021