Blog icon

Dr Andrew Beath

Pronouns: he,him,his

Team Leader

https://people.csiro.au/B/A/Andrew-Beath

Contact

Please enter a valid first name

Please enter a valid last name

Please enter a valid email address

Please enter your message to send to the contact

Biography

Dr Andrew Beath is a principal research engineer primarily involved in solar thermal technology research in the Technologies Program of CSIRO Energy, where he is Team Leader for the Solar Thermal Applications team. He is also Research Leader for the Process Technologies Program of the HILT CRC that is focused on evaluating technologies for the decarbonisation of Australian heavy industries. His research activities chiefly involve the process simulation and financial analysis for multiple technology variants involving solar thermal and hybrid (eg. biomass or natural gas) inputs, which included a long-running role in the technoeconomic assessment of solar thermal technologies for electricity and other applications in the Australian Solar Thermal Research Institute (ASTRI). Previous roles in CSIRO have included simulation of coal- and gas-to-liquids processes, development of modelling tools for underground coal gasification, and a range of process optimisation work in the mine environment and Greenhouse gas mitigation areas. He also has a broad range of prior experience in general chemical engineering in the power generation and sugar processing industries. In more recent years, his work has been dominated by process modelling and optimisation of plant designs for improved financial performance, but he also has experience in design of specialised plant items, commissioning, operation, maintenance and process improvement covering a wide range of water and wastewater treatment plant, coal preparation and combustion equipment, and raw sugar pans and fugals. Along a career path commencing in the power industry through to research activities on a variety of process technologies, he has had strong research links with the coal, petrochemicals, ammonia, sugar, iron, cement and alumina industry partners both Australian and international.

Achievements and Awards

  • 2014-2014

    TMS Light Metals Division JOM Best Paper
    The Minerals Society

  • 2008-2008

    Medal for Business Excellence
    CSIRO

  • 2008-2009

    Patent: A system for catalytic combustion (AU2003264182B2/US74308692006)
    CSIRO

  • 1992-1995

    Australian Postgraduate Award
    University of Newcastle

  • 1988-1988

    BHP Prize in Chemical Engineering
    University of Newcastle

  • 1988-1991

    Dean's Order of Merit
    University of Newcastle

Current Roles

  • Process development, plant simulation and financial assessment/Project leader
    Solar thermal technologies for electricity and process heat

  • Process development, chemical modelling and financial assessment/Project leader
    Hybrid solar and biomass technolgoies for chemical and fuel production

  • Technoeconomic asssessment and optimisation/Project leader
    Identifying opportunities for solar thermal technologies in Australian networks

  • Team leader (Solar Thermal Applications)
    Materials assessment for high temperature processes and technoeconomic analysis of solar thermal technologies

Academic Qualifications

  • 1996

    PhD (Chemical Engineering)
    University of Newcastle

  • 1992

    BEng (Chemical, Honours 1)
    University of Newcastle

  • 1986

    BSc (Incomplete)
    University of Newcastle

Professional Experiences

  • 1987-1997

    Cadet - Graduate Chemist
    Electricity Commission of NSW/Pacific Power

  • 1997-1999

    Research Engineer
    Sugar Research Institute

  • 1999-2007

    Postdoctoral Fellow - Senior Research Engineer - Stream Leader
    CSIRO Exploration and Mining

  • 2007-Current

    Principal Research Engineer - Team Leader
    CSIRO Energy

  • 2021-Current

    Research Program Co-leader
    HILT CRC

Other highlights

  • 2006-2012

    Commercial trial of CSIRO's UCG technology

  • 2008-2008

    US Patent granted for System of Catalytic Combustion

We have publications by Dr Andrew Beath