Can Australia Become a Green Hydrogen Superpower? Hysata’s Paul Barrett and Dr. Liam Wagner Discuss New Innovations and Investments
Fiona Nanna, ForeMedia News
7 minutes read. Updated 3:10PM GMT Thurs, 8August, 2024
Australia is at the cusp of a potential green energy revolution, with the possibility of becoming a global leader in green hydrogen production. This vision is driven by innovative companies like Hysata, led by Dublin-born CEO Paul Barrett. Hysata is working to create the world’s most cost-effective hydrogen through a groundbreaking approach that eliminates inefficiencies associated with traditional electrolysis.
Electrolysis, the process of splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen using electricity, is the cornerstone of Hysata’s technology. Located in Port Kembla, an industrial area south of Sydney, Hysata has developed a proprietary material designed to enhance the efficiency of electrolyzers. According to Barrett, this material helps the company produce hydrogen with 20% less electricity than conventional methods. This efficiency is crucial because hydrogen, when used as a fuel or in industrial applications, emits no carbon dioxide (CO2), making it a promising solution for reducing global emissions.
Hydrogen production is classified into four types: green, grey, blue, and black. Green hydrogen is produced using renewable energy, while grey hydrogen is derived from methane with CO2 emissions. Blue hydrogen is similar to grey but includes CO2 capture, and black hydrogen results from coal combustion. The global shift towards green hydrogen necessitates a significant increase in its production and supply to meet growing demand.
Dr. Liam Wagner, an associate professor at Curtin University in Adelaide, highlights the main challenge: aligning production with demand and regulating supply. “The efficiency of production and the amount of energy required to run these processes is the biggest frontier,” he explains.
Australia’s rich natural resources have historically fueled its export-driven economy, with coal powering Japan and iron ore supporting China’s growth. Hydrogen is seen as a new frontier for Australian exports, potentially offering energy to countries with limited domestic production. Dr. Wagner envisions hydrogen being exported in liquid form or as ammonia, with the latter being a more probable option.
Hysata’s innovation began with research at the University of Wollongong in New South Wales. Traditional electrolyzers face inefficiencies due to bubbles forming in the water, which can stick to electrodes and impede the process. Hysata’s solution involves a sponge-like material that reduces these bubbles, improving efficiency and lowering production costs. “It’s pretty easy to manufacture at a super low cost,” Barrett notes.
The hydrogen sector has long struggled with cost and efficiency, but Hysata’s recent US$111 million (£87 million) investment is expected to accelerate production capabilities. Dr. Ema Frery, a French-born geoscientist at CSIRO in Western Australia, is exploring the potential of geogenic hydrogen, which is produced naturally from certain rocks. “We have a lot of old granites that can generate hydrogen through radiogenic processes,” Frery explains. This type of hydrogen, also known as white or gold hydrogen, presents another avenue for Australia’s hydrogen ambitions.
Despite these advancements, skepticism remains. Amandine Denis-Ryan, CEO of the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) in Australia, argues that exporting hydrogen may not be economically viable. “Hydrogen shipping would be prohibitively expensive,” she says, citing high costs and significant energy losses. Denis-Ryan advocates for focusing on local hydrogen use and cautions against government funding for potentially unfeasible projects.
As the world increasingly invests in hydrogen technology, Professor Bahman Shabani of RMIT University in Melbourne is working on solutions to store surplus renewable energy using hydrogen. He believes that the global trend towards hydrogen is gaining momentum, with significant investments in countries like China, Japan, Germany, and the United States. “Hydrogen is gaining popularity all around the world,” Shabani observes. Australia’s future in the green hydrogen sector is still unfolding, with ongoing research and technological advancements paving the way for a cleaner, more sustainable energy future.
