Exploring Hydrogen

Ep 26 – The ‘Rubbish’ (!) Episode. Converting Waste to Energy – With Wildfire Energy

Greg Perkins is a co-founder, MD and CEO of Wildfire Energy

His is an Innovator with more than 20 years of industry experience in the development of new technologies and projects for the energy and oil & gas industries, with 12 pending and granted patents. He has a passion for cleaner energy, technology, innovation and business strategy and is a former Adjunct Professor in Chemical Engineering at the University of Queensland, 2021-2024; MIChemE and CPEng

Greg’s relevant experience includes:

·         Experience across diverse functions from technology, project delivery, construction and operations as well as business development

·         Start up and commissioning of a $100 million USD natural gas gasification unit at a refinery complex in Malaysia

·         Design, operation and troubleshooting of numerous coal gasification projects.

·         Inventor of the moving injection gravity drainage (MIGD) process for heavy oil recovery.

Key Points and Discussion Highlights

1. Sustainable Aviation Fuel and Syngas
   • Wildfire Energy’s unique process converts various organic materials into energy, which can then be used to make a variety of energy vector including sustainable aviation fuels and syngas, through a patented batch system.
   • Unlike traditional methods, their technology eliminates the need for pre-treatment or sorting of waste, making it more efficient and cost-effective.
2. Localised Waste Management Solutions
   • Greg highlights projects in Pacific Islands such as Nauru, where waste is often left in open areas, creating severe environmental problems.
   • Wildfire’s system can convert waste into electricity, replacing imported diesel and reducing the environmental impact, while generating about 20% of the islands’ power needs.
3. Adaptable Modular Design
   • The technology is modular and scalable to suit communities of different sizes, from small rural towns to larger urban centres.
   • This flexibility supports localised waste management, enabling communities to address their waste issues directly while creating jobs and generating renewable energy.
4. Environmental Impact and Carbon Credits
   • Wildfire’s process achieves net negative carbon emissions.
   • The approach qualifies for Australian carbon credit units, further incentivising the diversion of waste from landfills and supporting broader carbon reduction goals.
5. Global Demand for Renewable Energy Solutions
   • Greg discusses the growing global interest in hydrogen, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), and methanol as energy sources for industries like aviation and shipping. 
   • Methanol, in particular, has significant potential in shipping and as an intermediate chemical for producing carbon-neutral plastics, contributing to a circular economy.
6. Financial Challenges and Market Adoption
   • Funding remains a key challenge due to the capital-intensive nature of the technology, with many venture capital funds hesitant to invest in such projects. Despite this, Wildfire has secured government grants and international support.
7. Future Outlook and Expansion Plans
   • Greg envisions Wildfire Energy expanding globally, with dozens of operational projects within the next decade.
   • The long-term strategy includes licensing the technology internationally, empowering communities worldwide to manage waste locally while generating renewable energy

Closing Remarks

• Andy and Greg conclude by encouraging listeners to follow Wildfire Energy’s progress via their LinkedIn page and monthly newsletter, where they share updates and insights.
• Andy invites listeners to subscribe to the podcast for more episodes on innovative clean energy solutions and thanks Greg for an enlightening discussion about tackling waste and energy challenges with transformative technology.

A link to their website and newsletters is below:

Wildfire Energy

Newsletters | wildfire (wildfireenergy.com.au)