Biography

Dr. Armando Fontalvo is a Research Fellow at the School of Engineering, Australian National University (ANU), within the College of Systems and Society. His work focuses on the decarbonisation of heavy industry through advanced energy systems modelling, with a particular emphasis on thermal energy storage (TES), variable renewable energy integration, and flexible industrial processes.

Armando has a strong background in thermo-fluid engineering, energy systems, and numerical modelling, and he collaborates closely with industry and research partners through the HILT CRC. His research combines fundamental engineering principles with practical, technology-focused analysis to support the transition to low-carbon industrial systems, including the integration of CSP with industrial heat and power applications.

A distinctive component of his work also addresses the structural integrity and service life of CSP receivers, linking operational conditions, thermal stresses, and fatigue performance to plant design and dispatch strategies.

In addition to his research, Armando contributes to teaching and student supervision, including tutoring in capstone design projects and developing educational materials related to energy storage and industrial decarbonisation.

Research

Armando’s research centres on the integration of renewable energy and energy storage technologies into energy-intensive industrial processes, particularly in steelmaking, cement, and alumina refining. His work is closely aligned with several HILT CRC projects, including the Lost Production and Variability project, which examines how variable renewable energy interacts with industrial production systems.

Key areas of his research include:

• Hydrogen-based Direct Reduced Iron (H₂-DRI) modelling, including the coupling of renewable electricity, hydrogen production, and variable-rate steelmaking processes.
• Thermal Energy Storage (TES) for industry, with a focus on high-temperature storage, electric heating, and hybrid heat supply systems for processes such as steam generation.
• Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) integration with industry, including coupling CSP with molten-salt storage and High-temperature Third-Generation CSP systems with alternative heat transfer fluids like liquid sodium and chloride salt.
• CSP receiver durability and fatigue analysis, assessing receiver service life using SRLIFE, an FEM-based structural and creep–fatigue analysis tool developed by Argonne National Laboratory. This work links transient thermal loading, stress evolution, and damage accumulation to operational strategies and receiver design.
• Optimisation of energy systems, using mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) and stochastic methods to minimise cost while meeting production and reliability constraints.
• Process modelling and simulation, using tools such as OpenModelica, SysCAD, FactSage, and custom Python-based workflows.
• Techno-economic analysis (TEA) of decarbonisation pathways, including the assessment of capital costs, operational costs, and levelized cost of steel (LCOS) or other industrial products.

His research aims to provide practical, data-driven pathways for reducing industrial emissions while maintaining productivity and economic viability.

Interests

Armando’s professional and intellectual interests include:

• Industrial decarbonisation and energy transition
• Thermal and electrochemical energy storage
• Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) and solar thermal technologies
• Renewable energy integration with heavy industry
• Hydrogen technologies and clean fuels
• Heat transfer, thermodynamics, and high-temperature processes
• Numerical modelling, optimisation, and simulation tools
• Technology readiness assessment and industrial-scale implementation

Beyond his technical work, he is interested in engineering education, mentoring students, and developing structured learning materials related to energy storage and sustainable engineering.