1414 Degrees hires new GM

Adelaide-based thermal energy storage company 1414 Degrees has appointed John O’Donnell (pictured) as its General Manager, beginning in the role on Tuesday.

In a statement from the company on Monday, it said that O’Donnell  will lead implementation “pioneering clean heat technologies across industries globally” and comes with experience “span[ning] the project lifecycle from solution-design to decommissioning” over his career.

“I’ve always been interested in technology and the solutions in development by 1414 Degrees  are at the forefront of clean energy innovation. I look forward to working with this talented  team to bring these innovations to market,” said O’Donnell. 

“I’ll be leveraging my own, and the company’s existing networks, to assist in the next phase  of the journey, which is to implement solutions that decarbonise industrial operations and  provide our shareholders a return on their investment”.

1414 Degrees has developed its SiBox storage technology – which uses silicon-based thermal energy storage method for industrial process heating – to the point of commercialisation,  it said earlier this month.

It is also developing a new method for producing low-emission hydrogen from natural gas, invented at the University of Adelaide, which it has an exclusive licence to.

Executive Chairman Dr Kevin Moriarty said O’Donnell would be a valuable addition to the team. 

“John will be instrumental in enhancing our operational [efficiency] and resource allocation as we commercialise our energy storage and hydrogen solutions,” said Moriarty. 

O’Donnell – who has academic qualifications in law, electrical engineering and an MBA – was described in the release as having “considerable experience in sustainable energy systems, engineering design, and asset integrity solutions, including managing multidisciplinary teams of up to 3000  people”.

Picture: supplied