Adelaide University researchers have achieved a first in innovative green hydrogen technology.
The industries of steel, cement, and chemicals generate more than 30 percent of the world's greenhouse gas emissions, making them significant contributors to climate change. In Australia, much of our economic security relies on these sectors and associated exports, making us a key player in the race for industrial decarbonisation. Fortunately, Adelaide University researchers are leading the way in novel production of hydrogen – which releases no carbon dioxide when used as an energy source, paving the way for a greener future.
In a first for ‘green hydrogen’ technology, Sparc Hydrogen has launched the Sparc Hydrogen Advanced Research Pilot (SHARP), which will contribute greatly to the global effort to deliver scalable, low-cost, renewable hydrogen. Having now successfully produced sustained hydrogen generation, the pilot plant from Sparc Hydrogen – a joint venture between Adelaide University, Fortescue Limited and Sparc Technologies – is a test bed for photocatalytic water splitting (PWS), a pioneering approach to hydrogen production using a solar reactor that eliminates any reliance on electricity and significantly reduces infrastructure requirements.
The research group behind the project, led by Adelaide University Professor of Chemistry Greg Metha, first produced hydrogen in 2021 using PWS, which uses only sunlight, water and a photocatalyst in the solar reactor. PWS is a novel alternative to the current process for producing green hydrogen, a method called electrolysis, which is prohibitively expensive because of the high cost of electricity and equipment.
With fossil fuel-derived hydrogen still substantially cheaper to produce, there’s currently no financial incentive for existing users of hydrogen to switch or for prospective users to go green. But Professor Metha says PWS will change that by providing green hydrogen that’s more sustainable and affordable.
