Please find below the
Finalist Evaluation
Judges'' ratings
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| • | Feasibility: | |
| • | Impact: | |
| • | Presentation: |
Judges'' comments
While this is a technology heavy proposal that leaves many key questions unanswered about long term performance and viability of the proposed system, it is useful to understand that easy to obtain alternatives exist to powering home heating systems with fossil fuels.
Core technology is exciting and has very broad application for replacement of transport fuel, fossil fuel in combustion, electricity production and application in remote areas, and as storage for other RE sources. So potential impact is very high. Focus on home heating targets a very competitive market relative to other options, and other options (including building thermal efficiency) seem more viable. Also, no reference to process efficiency and hence amount of on-site renewable electricity generation needed to drive the process - an issue for home scale use. And it may have significant application in off-grid households where long term energy storage and transport fuel production as well as other energy services where combustion is attractive (eg cooking and heating).
Semi-Finalist Evaluation
Judges'' ratings
| • | Novelty: | |
| • | Feasibility: | |
| • | Impact: | |
| • | Presentation: |
Judges'' comments
Comments from Judge 1:
Unclear description of the technology itself (e.g. what are the electric energy needs to run this system? What is the output?) and the ways in which consumers can use the end product (e.g. can methanol fuel all existing heating systems?). The author/s need to focus on refining the proposal description.
Comments from Judge 2:
From the information provided it is very difficult to understand exactly what this system is, and what it actually costs. But if it can really produce about 200 MJ/day of methanol from CO2 (extracted from the atmosphere?) using rooftop solar electricity it could be a very exciting development that could not only provide heating, but also run a car and drive a fuel cell to provide electricity at times when other renewables are not available. However, its cost and efficiency needs to be compared with a high performance heat pump running from PV and using thermal storage, and possibly other options. A clear statement of the steps in the process, the energy flows and conversions, and the costs of all components is needed before a clear judgement can be made.
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