• – Thermal energy storage system in good condition 
• – Turbine is in good condition 
• – Working with manufacturer to resolve leak in external heat exchanger 
• – No anticipated impact on business case 

1414 Degrees has progressed investigations into the cause of lower electricity output from the GAS-TESS pilot at the Glenelg Wastewater Treatment Plant. The thermal energy storage system (TESS) and turbine are in good condition. An internal leak has been identified in the external heat exchanger. Since the specification of this pilot project includes identifying operational limits for components, we don’t anticipate any significant impact on the progress of our business case with SA Water. 

Following tests on January 8 in which electricity generation from the GAS-TESS was below performance targets, our engineers have identified the cause as a leak in the external heat exchanger, which resulted in reduced energy to the turbine.  

Our engineers, in close co-operation with the heat exchanger manufacturer, are conducting further detailed inspections, ahead of remediation works to repair the leak and mitigate any recurrence. 

The TESS has been turned off to facilitate the inspections and repair works. Once complete, the heat exchanger will be checked by the manufacturer and the system restarted. This is expected to take place early in February. 

 – GAS-TESS energy recovery system modified, working with the manufacturer of the turbine and heat exchanger to resolve an issue 

– Technical feasibility sent to Stone and Wood  

– First contact made with Aurora Project stakeholders

GAS-TESS: following completion of successful integration testing with SA Water in late November, the TESS pilot was cooled for two weeks to allow the energy recovery system to generate for longer periods of optimal electrical output. To do this a biogas co-firing burner was installed and commissioned by 6 January. On 2 January the primary burners were restarted, supplying heat to the Wastewater Treatment Plant while heating the silicon storage to operating temperature range by 6 January. The electrical generation module was supplied heat from 8 January but the turbine output was below performance targets. Our engineers are in daily contact with the manufacturer of the turbine and heat exchanger to resolve the issue as soon as possible.

Stone and Wood project: the technical feasibility study was sent to Stone and Wood on 19 December 2019 and is under consideration. 

Aurora Project: prior to the holiday period, first contact was made with stakeholders including the SA Government, the Port Augusta City Council, potential partners and providers. Your Company’s staff has been analysing revenue opportunities from operating in the National Energy Market (NEM) and direct heat and electric power contracts.