Luxton Memorial Lecture 2023
Hydrogen - a Link for Europe and Australia
Presented by Prof Christian Sattler of German Aerospace Center (DLR)
Hydrogen is emerging as a promising contributor to the net-zero energy transition, but many questions remain about the scale of its likely role. It is a key component of the most prospective path to 'green steel' and a prospective contributor to the large-scale storage of renewable energy, but the cost of clean hydrogen is presently high and its availability is still at a much smaller scale than will be needed.
What pathways are emerging internationally to help us understand what to expect to occur in Australia? Also, what opportunities are expected to emerge for regions with coincident renewable energy and mineral resources, such as South Australia, from growing global investment in the net-zero transition?
This lecture will be followed by a panel discussion with two other specialists, and by open questions, to explore such questions by addressing:
- What is the pace and scale of hydrogen technology development internationally?
- What are the emerging trends in the investment in the hydrogen sector and why?
- What technologies are likely to play an important role in this transition?
When: Tuesday 03 October 2023, 5:30 - 7:30pm
Where: Braggs Lecture Theatre, Braggs Building, University of Adelaide, North Terrace
Prof. Dr. Christian Sattler is Director of the Institute of Future Fuels of the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and professor at RWTH Aachen University, Germany. He received his PhD in chemistry from the University of Bonn, Germany in 1997. He joined DLR as a scientist in the field of solar chemistry and was a guest Scientist at the Unversidade Federal de Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil. From 2015 to 2022 he was professor at TU Dresden, Germany. From 2021 to 2023 he was acting Divisional Board Member for Energy and Transport of DLR.
He serves as Vice-President of the Hydrogen Europe Research association. He is an ASME fellow and member of the ASME Clean Energy Technical Group.
Expert Panellist - Rachelle Doyle
Rachelle is a passionate energy transition champion and clean energy leader. She is an experienced professional with over 20 years’ experience working in the energy and minerals processing with significant experience in provision of technology and engineering solutions for complex projects and operating environments.
She believes building long-term meaningful relationships is critical to enable sustainability and energy transition to net zero emissions.
Rachelle is Manager, Research and Development for Rio Tinto Iron Ore, the current chair of the Standards Australia ME-093 Hydrogen Technologies committee and a Fellow of the Institution of Chemical Engineers.
Expert Panellist - Prof Gus Nathan
Gus Nathan is the inaugural Energy Professional of the Year from the Australian Institute of Energy, SA, a Fellow of the Combustion Institute, a recipient of an ARC Discovery Outstanding Researcher Award and an ATSE KH Sutherland medallist. He was the bid leader for, and is now the Research Director of, the national $215m Heavy Industry Low-carbon Transition Cooperative Research Centre. He previously led an ARENA-funded program to develop solar thermal technology to decarbonize the Bayer alumina process in partnership with Alcoa, Hatch and CSIRO, and an innovative hydrogen production technology in methane pyrolysis within the Future Fuels Cooperative Research Centre.
His work in iron ore processing includes development of iron-pellet kiln burners and iron ore beneficiation technologies. He also led the development of the fuel and combustion system for Sydney Olympic Relay Torch. He has published some 300 papers in international journals, 250 in peer reviewed conferences, 50 commissioned reports and 13 patents.
Event Host - Susan Jeanes
Susan has worked in the Australian renewable energy and broader sectors for more than two decades. She is a Director of Jeanes Holland and Associates (JHA) and a former Director of The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA).
She works with industry, research organisations and governments to build relationships and foster collaboration on shared goals. She develops pathways for reaching agreed outcomes from differing perspectives.
She understands the political environment and how governments develop a national interest view. She has previously held the roles of inaugural CEO of the Australian Geothermal Energy Association (AGEA), and of the Renewable Energy Generators of Australia (REGA). Prior to 2002, she was the Climate Change and Energy Advisor to former Federal Environment Minister Robert Hill and the Member for Kingston in the Federal Parliament.
The Memorial Luxton Lecture is presented by the Centre for Energy Technology and the Institute for Sustainability, Energy and Resources in honour of Professor Russell Escourt 'Sam' Luxton, FTS, FIEAust, FAIE, FRSAMC, FRSA (1933-2013).
Professor Luxton was a truly remarkable person, who made significant contributions to the national energy direction in recommending the establishment of the National Energy Research, Development & Demonstration Council (NERDDC), a precursor to the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA). He was also a national leader in the engineering and education professions, through his roles as Professor and Head of the University of Adelaide’s School of Mechanical Engineering and a champion for progress along the path to a cleaner energy future through the twin pillars of innovative technology development and policy initiatives.
General enquiries
Centre for Energy Technology
Email: cet@adelaide.edu.au