Students Philip Curran and Lisa Chao together as Energy from Waste (EFW), have taken out top prize in the 2013 Australian e-Challenge. Presented at the Gala Awards Dinner at the Wine Centre of Australia on 1 November, Philip and Chao also took out the People’s Choice Award and the Adelaide Airport Limited, Clean Tech Award.
EFW is currently developing ReFuel™, a beginning-to-end technology solution for converting low-value grease trap waste (GTW) into commercial grade biodiesel fuel. EFW will market ReFuel™ to major waste processing companies which currently collect and dispose of GTW, thus eliminating disposal costs and creating a new revenue stream. When companies purchase ReFuel™, EFW will design, construct, commission and operate biodiesel production plants on the customer’s existing processing facilities. Profits from the biodiesel produced will be paid to Waste Energy on a sliding scale, depending on the up-front capital investment split between the customer and Energy From Waste.
ReFuel™ turns Waste into Resource!
The Australian e-Challenge, run annually, is open to teams of two to six individuals (including at least 1 tertiary student) to develop a business plan for a new, unfunded concept.
Teams submit their concept proposals which are judged for their level of innovation and the extent that they represent actual commercial potential. Those top rated teams move on to the semi-final round, which sees them eligible to participate in a series of workshops, presented by specialists in various fields. Teams are also paired with an experienced mentor from the business community, who help teams to construct a business model around their concept that will help turn their idea into a reality.
The other award winners for 2013 were as follows:
2nd Prize
Flarum
3rd Prize
Florence Energy
ECIC Commercialisation Encouragement Award
Flarum
Diamond in the Rough
Family Footprint
Vroom Award
Cinematick