UOW partners with Ecotech to measure greenhouse gases around the globe

A University of Wollongong (UOW) invention will help governments around the world measure greenhouse gases following the university’s decision to commercialise its greenhouse gas analyser - the Spectronus - in partnership with Australian environmental monitoring solutions manufacturer Ecotech.

First developed in 2002 by the UOW’s School of Chemistry, the analyser is already in use with Australian government departments and organisations including the Queensland Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Victoria’s Department of Sustainability and Environment, and the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO). Internationally, the analyser is currently used by government organisations and universities in Germany, France, China, South Korea and New Zealand.

The partnership comes at a critical time in Australia, with the carbon price arrangements coming into effect on 1 July 2012. Worldwide, there is also an increasing need for governments to accurately measure greenhouse gases in their environments.To meet this growing demand, Ecotech has begun manufacturing the analyser in Australia and will distribute it via its worldwide network under a licensing agreement with the UOW.

The Spectronus delivers a high-precision, real-time analysis of the major greenhouse gases including carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, carbon monoxide and water vapour. The analyser’s hardware is complemented by powerful operating software which provides a flexible, fully automated system that can be remotely controlled.

Professor David Griffith, head of the UOW Research Team, said, “Policy decisions based on climate change research demand highly accurate and repeatable data for all greenhouse gases, not just CO₂. In a world first, the Spectronus simultaneously measures important greenhouse gases, making it highly sought after by governments and their agencies. We are excited by the opportunity to meet global demand for this Australian invention through our partnership with Ecotech.”

For more on the partnership and device, read our initial news item.