When it comes to solar cooling, the HVAC&R industry is still wrestling with risk and glory, according to CSIRO research leader, Dr Stephen White.
Speaking at the first ever Solar Cooling Workshop organised by the Australian Institute of Refrigeration, Air Conditioning and Heating (AIRAH), White said solar cooling has great potential but it is still a struggle to ensure projects are successful.
He said the workshop generated a lot of buzz with 80 enthusiastic attendees asking a lot of questions about how to make the technology work.
“We heard about the almost-faultless University of Wollongong Solar Decathlon house, and we heard about the difficulty of getting the stars to align in-order to pull off some projects with great potential,” White said.
As a member of AIRAH’s solar cooling workshop committee, White said the one day event explored new ideas, technology and innovations.
He said there was a broad catalogue of speakers that shared their knowledge and experience.
“They covered everything from the international perspective on solar cooling to local innovators and their projects,” he said.
“There was a great selection of presentations covering design, economic modelling, case studies and new inventions.”
Thrilled with the high attendance, AIRAH CEO Phil Wilkinson said the energy in the conference room was brilliant.
“The workshop has shown us that our industry is keen to pursue new technology and push things forward,” he said.
Workshop chair Lu Aye, said the workshop unveiled exciting innovations not only in the academic domain, but in the wider industry.
“Initially, I didn’t expect that we would have so many participants and so much interest within Australia,” Aye said.
“The Workshop also showed that while we may focus research on one of the many aspects of solar cooling, it’s important to have bigger-picture thinking in order to make solar cooling projects successful.