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RESEARCH
Water Recycle Group Australia is involved with research and development activities either cooperatively with clients and authorities or independently to concieve, design, build, test and document new equipment, procedures and systems that involve more effective, safer and cost competitive water and wastewater treatment.
Areas of current WRG research activity in the Asia-Pacific region include:
 Biofilters for sensitive water sites - Australia
Coastal & inland desalination options - Australia, Pacific
Marine slipway antifouling decontamination - Australia
Rural non-chemical sewage options Australia, Thailand
Greywater reuse systems - Australia, South East Asia
Micro-active enzymes - Asia
Poultry effluent treatment analysis - Hong Kong
Package water treatment systems - Asia
Micro-hydropower innovations - New Zealand
WRG typically invests approximately 7-10% of revenue in research and development activities - well above the industry average.
We are also involved in developing water and related treatment research projects that are assisted with funds from government research and development grants for a wide range of interests.
In 2003 WRG was awarded the Knowledge Fund Proof Of Concept Grant for its package greywater treatment unit. More recently, WRG won the 2005 Knowledge Fund for Commercialisation of such technologies.
Specific Government Grants available in Australia with which we seek project partners include:
Renewable Energy Support Fund (RESF) - Victorian Government
Renewable energy sources are those that cannot be depleted or can be replaced such as solar, wind, biomass, wave or hydro. Energy from renewable energy sources is not confined to electricity generation. Renewable resources can also be converted to heat energy, as seen in solar ponds and geothermal projects.
The Renewable Energy Support Fund (RESF) is a key initiative of the Victorian Greenhouse Strategy. The Sustainable Energy Authority is now inviting proposals for innovative renewable energy projects for consideration under the $8 million Renewable Energy Support Fund.
The objective of RESF is to encourage innovative applications of medium-scale proven renewable energy technologies in Victoria, such as energy generated from farm waste or mini-hydro projects
WRG is very interested in working cooperatively to design, supply and install mini-hydro power to mountainous regions of the state, particularly the Gippsland region.
Renewable Energy Equity Fund (REEF) - Australian Government
REEF provides venture capital and managerial advice for small, innovative renewable energy companies. This includes companies which are commercialising direct or enabling renewable energy technologies and services, such as designers and producers of microhydropower systems or the inverters to convert this to useful electricity (such as WRG) , providing there is an innovative development being commercialised. The investee company receives capital, managerial expertise and enhanced business reputation as a result of the REEF investment. In return for the provision of capital, the fund manager acquires a part-ownership of the company and usually a seat on the Board of Directors. The Commonwealth contributed $17.7m to establish the fund, CVC REEF Ltd, which is matched by private sector funding of $8.8m for a total fund of $26.6m.
Potential Eligible Investee Companies must be commercialising renewable energy technology; be at the seed, start-up or early expansion stage of development; have a majority of employees and assets inside Australia at the time the licensed fund first invests in the enterprise; and have an average annual revenue over the previous two years of income that does not exceed $4m per year and a revenue in either year not in excess of $5m. The maximum investment in an investee by CVC REEF Ltd is $3m.
Smart Water Fund - Victoria Government
The Smart Water Fund encourages and supports innovative development of water conservation, water saving and biosolids recycling projects within the community for Melbourne's future urban, agricultural and environmental needs. It aims to cut water consumption by 15% and to increase waste water recycling by 20% by 2010.
Specific regions that are covered incorporate the service areas covered by City West Water, South East Water, Yarra Valley Water and Melbourne Water. Generally, funding assistance for any one project will range from $50,000 to $500,000 and is open to any individual, community group or commercial enterprise.
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We acknowledge the foresight of government authorities above and encourage other states to develop incentives for improving water quality, effluent reuse and energy efficiency to the level that match political rhetoric.
WRG is very interested in pursuing excellence through applied research. We regularly sign confidentiality agreements with technologists and project developers.
If you have a research project that you seek assistance in research, project management or to work cooperatively please email our Technical Director
   
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