Hydrogen generation for refuelling fuel cell vehicles (H2 Generation)
One step closer to an Australian renewable hydrogen industry
![A bright blue Toyota Mirai which is a fuel cell vehicle that runs on hydrogen parked in front of a CSIRO banner](https://sief.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/CSIRO-hydrogen2-2-300x186.jpg)
Toyota’s hydrogen powered vehicle Mirai at CSIRO’s Pullenvale site for the demonstration day (CSIRO)
The challenge
The growing global demand for clean hydrogen fuel represents a significant opportunity to establish an Australian renewable hydrogen export industry. By using liquid ammonia produced in Australia from renewable energy as a carrier, renewable hydrogen can be distributed to emerging markets in Japan, Korea and Europe using existing infrastructure. The gap in the technology chain is a device which can efficiently and inexpensively convert ammonia into high-purity hydrogen at or near the point of use.
The response
The SIEF Experimental Development Program (EDP) supported CSIRO’s construction and operation of a demonstration plant using its metal membrane technology capable of extracting pure hydrogen from liquid ammonia, for refuelling Australia’s first hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicles.
Projected impact
The outcomes of this project will advance the technology for producing high-purity hydrogen from ammonia to be commercialisation-ready and primed to enter domestic and international markets as an alternative energy source, with projected impacts including:
- Creating Australia’s first hydrogen generator for fuel cell vehicles, thereby increasing our reputation and scientific knowledge in hydrogen-selective membranes and their manufacture and application in industry.
- Contributing to the development of an Australian renewable hydrogen export industry, providing economic value in terms of job growth, entrepreneurial business opportunities, and increased domestic market and export value.
- Enhancing Australia’s economic competitiveness through energy security delivered by sustainable, low-emission technology; reducing environmentally harmful reliance on oil and fossil fuels.
![Scientists working on fuel cell technologyin a lab next to gas cylinders.](https://sief.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/hydrogen-fuelcell-dev-300x200.jpg)
Scientists are developing a membrane for hydrogen separation that can help with its distribution for hydrogen fuel cells in vehicles.
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