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Australian hydrogen specialist Hysata will install a 5 MW electrolyser unit next to Stanwells coal-fired power station in Queensland state as part of a commercial-scale demonstration of its next-generation technology. Hysata, a University of Wollongong (UOW) spin-out company, has secured more than A$23 million (US$14.87 million) from the Australian and Queensland governments to fund a project to accelerate the development and commercialization of its “capillarity-fed” electrolysing cell technology. The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has committed A$20.9 million to help finance the demonstration project, while Queensland government-owned utility Stanwell Corp. is backing the initiative with A$3 million. Australians. Stanwell will also provide the site and facilities for the field deployment of the electrolyser. Hysata is developing a highly efficient hydrogen electrolyser technology that almost completely eliminates resistance in the electrolysis process and has the potential to significantly change the economics of green hydrogen production. “Todays electrolysers suffer energy losses due to electrical resistance and the formation of gas bubbles at the electrodes, which reduces the overall efficiency of the system,” explains Hysata. “[The technology] has been shown to produce hydrogen with an efficiency of 95% (41.5 kWh/kg), well ahead of existing technologies that operate with efficiencies close to 75% (52.5 kWh/kg).” ARENA stated that the technology has “potential to reduce the cost of renewable hydrogen production by reducing electricity inputs… The technology also offers a lower balance of plant costs, with lower electrical resistance resulting in a reduced cooling requirements. If applied on a large scale, these reduced costs will help reduce the levelized cost of hydrogen, making renewable hydrogen a commercially viable energy resource. Hysata plans to develop and test a 5 MW unit at its new electrolyser factory in Port Kembla, New South Wales. The electrolyser suite will then undergo testing and validation before being shipped to Queensland, where it will be installed alongside the 1,460 MW Stanwell Power Station near Rockhampton. The site has land, water and network connection capacity. Hysata has stated that initial development of the system is already underway and that the pilot project at Stanwell will begin in 2025. Hysata CEO Paul Barrett said the project is a pivotal moment in the companys rapid technological and commercial growth. company, which is working to achieve a portfolio of conditional orders and signed letters of intent of 9.4 GW. “Our plan calls for the construction of a 100 MW per year production line, with commercial-scale units scheduled for delivery in 2025, including the 5 MW electrolyser unit for the Stanwell project. And 5 MW for the Stanwell project”. ARENAs executive director, Darren Miller, said the project is a crucial step in making purchase orders for the technology possible. “This electrolyser technology could be a game changer for renewable hydrogen,” Miller said. The demonstration at the Stanwell facility will be key to unlocking commercial demand for Hysatas product by demonstrating that the technology works at scale. The new funding is in addition to the 8.98 million Australian dollars granted by ARENA within the framework of the German-Australian HyGATE program, with an additional contribution of 9 million from the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). With the help of the HyGATE grant, Hysata is currently working on the development of a 200 kW electrolyser system that will demonstrate the key components of the 5 MW commercial scale demonstration unit. |
