Australia's Environmental Technology A World Winner

Australia's environmental technology has been recognised at the 2005 World Expo Aichi Japan with six companies winning awards, Acting Prime Minister and Trade Minister Mark Vaile announced today.

"I congratulate the six Australian companies on their achievements in developing new technologies which will assist in resolving global environmental problems to create a more sustainable future," Mr Vaile said.

The Global 100 Eco -Tech Awards, established by the Japan Association for the 2005 World Exposition, recognise 100 companies from around the world which contribute to the resolution of global environmental problems and the realisation of a sustainable future.

The Australian companies, and their award winning technologies, were:

Revolutionary photovoltaic solar cells manufactured by ORIGIN ENERGY SOLAR;
MIEX Technology - Advanced Dissolved Organic Carbon Removal by ORICA ADVANCED WATER TECHNOLOGIES;
MetaMizer Clinical Waste Conversion Technology by MEDIVAC LIMITED;
Heat pump hot water production by QUANTUM ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES PTY LTD;
Molectra Integrated Waste Tyre Recycling Technology by JOHN DOBOZY;
Biolytix Waste Treatment System by BIOLYTIX ™ TECHNOLOGIES.

The winning technologies were awarded Yen1,000,000 ($13,000), a certificate of commendation and a commemorative gift.

"The Australian Pavilion at World Expo has already welcomed more than 1.2 million visitors since opening on 25 March," Mr Vaile said.

"The Pavilion's strong environmental messages complement the Expo's overall theme of Nature's Wisdom."

The Australian Pavilion will host an Austrade-organised Environmental Technology and Services mission tomorrow (21 July) involving 10 leading environmental technology companies and led by Ian Kiernan AO, founder of the Clean Up Australia and Clean Up The World environmental campaigns.

The Expo, in Nagoya, will run until 25 September.

Contacts: Carissa Buckland (Minister Vaile) 02 6277 6042, Nicole Guihot (DFAT) 02 6261 1555

Background on Winning Companies

The Revolutionary Biolytix™ Waste Treatment System

The Biolytix™ Waste Treatment System converts sewage, wastewater, sanitary items and food waste into clean irrigation water onsite. Biolytix™ invested $3M in Research and Development, and achieved the best results in the world for the most compact biological system. It's also the most greenhouse friendly treatment system in the world. Biolytix™ Systems use soil organisms and microbes to convert waste into humus. It's patented to use the structured waste and resultant humus as the filter to cleanse wastewater. The systems can be linked together for developments (Biowater™) and cost half the price of sewerage, as well as recycling water on-site.

For more information visit: www.biolytix.com or contact Jenny Allen, Media Officer on phone: +61 7 5499 9442 or email: jennya@biolytix.com

Origin Energy's SLIVER Solar Technology

Origin Energy's revolutionary SLIVER technology was invented in conjunction with the Australian National University's Centre for Sustainable Energy Systems. SLIVER® is a new and unique monocrystalline solar PV technology that uses dramatically less silicon. Small volumes of SLIVER panels are now being produced at Origin's US$15M plant in Adelaide, South Australia and the Solar team is working towards producing larger modules for scale production in coming years. Origin Energy is Australia's number one Solar PV retailer - with a national market share of over 40% SLIVER® is a registered trade mark of Origin Energy Solar Pty Ltd, a wholly owned company of Origin Energy Ltd, Australia's second largest energy company.

For more information visit www.SLIVER.com.au or contact: Phil Mackey, General Manager - Renewable and Low Emission Technologies on tel +61 8 8245 8210.

Molectra Technologies: Integrated Waste Tyre Recycling Technology

1.2 billion discarded waste vehicle tyres are worldwide creating an ever-increasing environmental problem. The vast majority are stockpiled, landfilled, burned/incinerated or dumped illegally. Molectra has developed a revolutionary, unique, sophisticated, patented technology for extracting lucrative materials from waste tyres. The process reclaims all of the components that make up a tyre (100% recovery) cleanly and efficiently without waste, residue or emissions. The process is completely unique and the recovered products include crumb rubber, carbon black, activated carbon, hydrocarbon gas, jet-fuel, diesel oil, steel and plastic fibres. In 2004 the technology was awarded the Australia Eureka Prize for Engineering Innovation. It is patented in 37 countries.

For more information visit www.molectra.com.au or contact: Mr John Dobozy Jnr, Project Officer, Molectra Technologies on +61 7 5597 5533

Quantum Energy Technologies: Heat Pump Hot Water Production

Quantum heat pumps are a form of solar water heater but without the traditional roof panels normally associated with solar. The pumps significantly assist in lowering the production of greenhouse gases by reducing the energy normally required to heat water by up to 75%. Quantum systems operate in all weather conditions from minus 10°C to plus 40°C and do not require direct sunlight, so can be used in most locations around the world. Due to the ease of installation they can be installed by the same trades that would normally do the installation of a standard electric water heater.

For more information visit www.quantumenergy.com.au or contact Mr Robert Hardie, Business Development Manager on tel: + 61 2 9699 7444 or email rhardie@quantumenergy.com.au

Orica: MIEX® Technology- Advanced Dissolved Organic Carbon Removal

For more information visitwww.miexresin.com or contact David Day on tel: +61 3 9283 6249 or email: david.day@orica.com

Medivac: MetaMizer Clinical Waste Conversion technology

The MetaMizer is a device enabling health care institutions to simultaneously sterilize and granulate clinical and sharps waste. Using a combination of steam and a unique cutting technology the MetaMizer granulates waste more quickly and silently (saving energy), finer (generating less waste), and sterilizes virus/bacteria in shorter times (more efficient) than its competitors. It has applications in hospitals, mobile medical field units, quarantine situations for outbreaks of animal disease or human epidemics, and in combating bio terrorism. It has obtained international patent in 3 countries for its core waste granulation and sterilization technology and has patents pending in many more countries.

For more information visit: www.medivac.com.au or contact Mark Butler, CEO on +61 2 9894 7129 or email: mark.butler@medivac.com.au