A Newcastle company commercialising technology developed by CSIRO to produce high-temperature industrial heat from sunlight will share its progress at an Engineers Australia presentation in November.
FPR Energy co-founder and Chief Operating Officer Wil Gardner will present Sunshine, sand and steam: decarbonising industrial heat on Wednesday 11 November, examining how concentrated solar thermal (CST) technology could offer an alternative to gas and other fossil fuels used in energy-intensive manufacturing and processing.
FPR’s technology uses mirrors to concentrate sunlight onto a receiver, where falling ceramic particles absorb heat that can be stored and supplied to industrial processes. Unlike conventional solar photovoltaic panels, which generate electricity, the system captures solar energy directly as heat.
According to CSIRO, the technology is capable of producing temperatures of up to 1,200°C, making it potentially suitable for applications such as minerals refining, cement, steel and chemical production.
Engineers Australia reports that Gardner’s research team previously achieved 803°C at the outlet of a falling particle receiver during its development at CSIRO.
At the November presentation, Gardner will discuss the engineering work behind the technology, including the development of prototypes and the challenges involved in bringing high-temperature solar thermal systems into commercial use.
From CSIRO research to a Newcastle business
FPR Energy was established in 2024 by CSIRO, RFC Ambrian and Osaka Gas, with $15 million in seed funding to commercialise particle-based CST technology.
The company grew out of CSIRO’s particle receiver research program, developed through the Australian Solar Thermal Research Institute with support from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA).
A co-inventor of the technology, Gardner spent 12 years with CSIRO’s Solar Research Group before becoming FPR Energy’s Chief Operating Officer.
Based in Mayfield West, the company is developing the receiver, particle steam generator and related equipment needed to transfer stored solar heat into usable industrial energy.
At its launch, CSIRO reported that FPR planned to develop a 50 MW thermal demonstration plant with up to 16 hours of integrated thermal storage to investigate the technology’s commercial viability at a larger scale.
The company’s work is directed towards industrial applications that need reliable high-temperature heat, particularly processes that currently depend on burning fossil fuels.
University researchers join next phase of thermal storage development
While FPR Energy emerged from CSIRO research, the company has since established a separate research collaboration with the University of Newcastle through the Trailblazer for Recycling and Clean Energy (TRaCE).
The partnership includes work on FPR’s electrical thermal energy storage (eTES) platform, which uses electricity rather than concentrated sunlight to heat ceramic particles for storage and later use.
In September, TRaCE announced a new Mobility Fellowship that will see University of Newcastle researcher Matt Patterson undertake a 12-month secondment with FPR Energy.
Patterson will contribute to the design, commissioning and testing of experimental particle-heating technologies, investigating how heat can be transferred efficiently into ceramic particles.
The research will examine different electrical heating methods, particle flow behaviour and heat loss under varying operating conditions.
According to TRaCE, the work is intended to identify improvements to system design and performance that could support future scaling and commercial development of the eTES platform.
This is the second TRaCE Mobility Fellowship undertaken with FPR Energy and follows a recent extension of an existing research and development voucher project involving the company.
Although the CST and eTES systems both use ceramic particles to store high-temperature heat, they employ different energy sources. The November Engineers Australia presentation focuses on the solar thermal technology, while the university fellowship investigates electrically heated storage.
Industry invited to see technology in Newcastle
Before the Engineers Australia presentation, FPR Energy will host an industry visit to its Newcastle demonstration facility on Friday 30 October as part of the International Mining and Resources Conference (IMARC) program.
The FPR Energy Demonstration Plant Tour will give mining, industrial and energy industry representatives an opportunity to see the company’s concentrated solar thermal demonstration system and learn about its electrical thermal energy storage development.
The visit includes a guided plant tour, technical briefing and discussions with FPR’s engineers and leadership team, with return transport provided from the International Convention Centre in Sydney.
Places are limited, and expressions of interest close on Friday 16 October. For more information on the IMARC site tour, go here.
Engineers Australia presentation open to the public
The Sunshine, sand and steam: decarbonising industrial heat presentation will take place at Engineers Australia, 125 Bull Street, Newcastle West, on Wednesday 11 November 2026.
The presentation will run from 6pm to 7pm, with in-person attendance and an online option available.
Attendance is free for Engineers Australia and EESA members and student members, while non-members can attend for $30.
