hydrogen economy

Australia’s Star Scientific has signed a deal with the Department of Energy in the Philippines to use its hydrogen tech. The partnership could see Star Scientific transform every coal-fired power plant in the nation to green hydrogen, while also using the tech to provide desalinated water.

The Spanish power utility announced it wants to deploy 23 green hydrogen projects by 2024. The company plans to build around 340 MW of electrolyzer capacity.

National Energy Resources Australia has actioned its instructions from the 2019 National Hydrogen Strategy by investing an initial $1.75 million in 13 regional clusters across all states and territories designed to establish Australia’s global identity in hydrogen technology and expertise.

University of Western Australia Professor Ray Wills says it’s “unlikely” that hydrogen will overtake batteries as the world’s preferred transport fuel.

Sumitomo has signed a contract with an EPC for a PV-powered green hydrogen plant in Queensland, and has also started a feasibility study for a gray-green hybrid hydrogen project in Oman.

Australian researchers have analyzed different ways to improve the efficiency of PV-powered water electrolysis for hydrogen generation. They include the use of magnetic fields, light energy, ultrasonic fields, and pulsating electric fields. Energy costs remain prohibitive, but molecular movement and the redistribution of molecules in water during electrolysis could open a path to viability.

Scientists from the University of New South Wales and the University of Sydney have made a breakthrough in the development of green ammonia. Their findings could alter the global industry with the help of solar to produce green ammonia for export to countries like Japan and Germany, instead of straight hydrogen.

The two French energy giants have announced a partnership agreement to develop, build and operate the Masshylia project – a 40 MW electrolyzer coupled with solar parks at the Total biorefinery in Châteauneuf-les-Martigues, in the southern region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d´Azur.

The Australian Smart Energy Council and Deutsche Energie-Agentur will work together to develop a scheme to certify renewable hydrogen and carbon-neutral power fuels.

Fortescue Metals Group Chairman Andrew ‘Twiggy’ Forrest returned to Western Australia last week after a four-month worldwide search for green energy projects and resources. One of the deals secured on the trip was a circular green hydrogen partnership with South Korean steelmaker Posco.