Sparc Hydrogen lands grant to translate green hydrogen tech
Sparc Hydrogen, a collaborative effort between Sparc Technologies Limited, the University of Adelaide, and Fortescue Future Industries, has secured a grant from the Australian Government to advance its groundbreaking photocatalytic water splitting (PWS) technology for green hydrogen production.
The A$470,511 grant, awarded under the Australian Economic Accelerator (AEA) program, will be instrumental in furthering laboratory testing and prototype development of Sparc Hydrogen's PWS reactor. This reactor is designed to harness the power of sunlight, water, and a photocatalyst to generate green hydrogen.
The funding announcement reflects the progress of prototype testing of the PWS reactor. Testing began in September 2023 at the CSIRO Energy Centre in Newcastle, New South Wales. Two rounds of testing have been successfully completed, with the reactor and supporting infrastructure performing well at planned upper limits of solar concentration and temperatures. The critical achievement of measuring hydrogen gas production and gathering other valuable data during these rounds will guide the development of a pilot-scale reactor.
Sparc Hydrogen's innovative approach to green hydrogen production has the potential to disrupt the industry. Their patent-pending solar reactor, utilizing photocatalytic water splitting, could offer more efficient and cost-effective means of hydrogen production compared to traditional electrolysis methods. This development is especially crucial in the context of increasing global interest in green hydrogen as a clean energy source and energy storage solution.
The Economic Accelerator (AEA) program is a ten-year initiative, running from 2023 to 2032, and benefits from a substantial A$1.6 billion investment from the Australian Government. This program is aligned with the University Research Commercialization Action Plan, with the aim of expediting the commercialization of pioneering research emerging from the university sector. In this context, Sparc Hydrogen's work in developing an alternative and efficient method for green hydrogen production has garnered significant recognition.
The AEA Seed round is highly competitive, with over 200 proposals vying for support. The University of Adelaide played a pivotal role in securing the grant on behalf of Sparc Hydrogen, indicating the strength of their application and the transformative potential of their technology.
