Coolbrook Joins HILT CRC To Accelerate Electrification And Decarbonisation Of Heavy Industry

Affiliate partnership connects Coolbrook’s RotoDynamic Heater technology with major research consortium and global industry players.

Coolbrook, a transformational technology company dedicated to decarbonising heavy industry and industrial processes, has joined Australian Heavy Industry Low-carbon Transition Cooperative Research Centre (HILT CRC) as an Affiliate Partner, strengthening its collaboration with global industry and research leaders to advance low-carbon industrial production.

Through this partnership, Coolbrook will work with some of the world’s leading mining and alumina and aluminium producers including Emirates Global Aluminium, Alcoa, Rio Tinto, South32, and Hydro, alongside notable research organisations such as CSIRO and Adelaide University. Bringing its technology and expertise in the development of high-temperature CO_₂-free process heating to the consortium, Coolbrook will work with the other partners to accelerate the electrification and decarbonisation of heavy industry.

HILT CRC is one of Australia’s leading consortiums dedicated to industrial decarbonisation, bringing together major industrial businesses, researchers and government organisations to accelerate the development and deployment of low-carbon technologies. The consortium focuses on overcoming the technical and commercial barriers to decarbonising energy-intensive industries.

As an Affiliate Partner, Coolbrook’s initial focus is expected to be HILT CRC’s Alumina Refineries’ Next-Generation Transition (AlumiNEXT) research project, which is exploring pathways to decarbonise alumina production, including the electrification of high-temperature calcination processes.

Lauri Peltola, Chief Commercial Officer at Coolbrook, said: “Joining HILT CRC provides an excellent opportunity to collaborate with prominent industrial companies and researchers and explore new applications for our technology, including alumina production. It’s a fantastic foundation to strengthen our international industrial partnership and expand our engagement in the Australian market.

“There is significant potential for our RDH technology in alumina calcination. This partnership enables us to explore new applications for the technology, assess its technical and economic potential, and engage with industrial partners on future commercial deployment. We look forward to contributing our expertise in high-temperature electrification and supporting the development and demonstration of these solutions at an industrially relevant scale.”

Jenny Selway, Chief Executive Officer at HILT CRC, said: “Coolbrook brings valuable capabilities in high-temperature CO_₂-free process heating that align closely with HILT CRC’s mission to accelerate and de-risk the decarbonisation of heavy industry.

“Adding new technology providers to our collaborative ecosystem strengthens the range of solutions we can assess with industry and helps ensure our research remains focused on the practical challenges manufacturers face as they transition away from fossil fuels.

“By connecting Coolbrook with leading industrial producers and researchers, we can build a stronger understanding of where its technology can deliver the greatest value and what is needed to support successful implementation at industrial scale.”