- Bruce Leslie, Leslie Consulting Pty Ltd
As the world strives to avoid the consequences of global warming, there is much debate about what the target should be and the acceptable economic cost. Ultimately, we know we need to end up with significant amounts of renewable energy generation using a chemical energy storage media such as hydrogen. The key question then is, “How do we get from a fossil fuel present to a renewable energy future, in an economically and technically efficient way?”
A key cost in moving away from any current energy system is the lost value of infrastructure that has life remaining. A key impediment to moving to a new energy system is how to justify the high cost of infrastructure with initial low take up. Therefore transitional technologies that allow the existing infrastructure to be used to end of life are extremely important. Also, the possibility of recycling infrastructure, through reuse of the equipment or land access, should be seen as desirable.
This presentation highlights the potential for fuel cells as an economically sensible step in the transition to a sustainable energy future.
BIO:
Bruce Leslie B.E., M.Eng.Sc, FAIE, RPEQ, is a mechanical engineer whose 25 year career has covered a wide range of engineering disciplines, research and innovation; including integrated system design, mechanical design, analysis, hypersonic fluid flow and vibration.
Since starting Leslie Consulting in 1989, he and the LC staff have provided high end engineering design and analysis using finite element methods and strain gauging measurements, predominantly to the mining industry.
LC has been pivotal in the advancement of mining equipment development in Australia, specifically in relation to dragline equipment, where the buckets and rigging components they have designed for CQMS have become the industry leaders.
LC started a renewable energy division three years ago, focused on currently available, real world products, that can contribute positively to a low emission future, and require engineering support to implement. Amongst other initiatives, this has lead to LC being appointed the distributor for Fuel Cell Energy in Australia.