As the principal consultant, Peter is responsible for leading the research and testing programs that support the technical development of the FuturGas Project. Since 1999 Peter has been the Associate Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Adelaide. He is a specialist in industrial combustion systems, fuels handling and gasification and a respected authority on research into lignite.

In 1984 Peter founded Fuel & Combustion Technology Ltd in the UK to apply more scientific methods for solving combustion and heat transfer problems in the process industries. This work covered a wide range of processes and equipment for clients such as Alcoa, BP, Exxon, the Sydney Olympic Games Organising Committee, Queensland Alumina, and WMC.

Peter’s research in combustion and gasification has continued and has focused on the gasification and combustion of brown coals and lignite with the objective of improved process efficiency and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.

Peter is a Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, the Energy Institute, Engineers Australia, and the Institution of Chemical Engineers. He is also a Registered Professional Engineer as well as a Chartered Engineer (UK). Peter is the lead author of Industrial and Process Furnaces – Principles, Design and Operation, the world’s first book on industrial furnace design due for publication in early 2008.