Hysata will develop and test
hydrogen tech in the steelmaking heartland of Port Kembla. (PR HANDOUT IMAGE
PHOTO)
Homegrown startup Hysata is
getting a cash injection to scale up pioneering hydrogen technology that could
slash Australia's industrial carbon footprint.
The Australian Renewable Energy
Agency (ARENA) on Monday announced $20.9 million for Hysata to develop and test
a unit at a new manufacturing facility in steelmaking heartland at Port Kembla
in NSW.
The demonstration unit will then
be installed in Queensland next to the Stanwell Power Station near Rockhampton,
backed by $3 million from state-owned power company Stanwell Corporation.
Energy and Climate Change Minister
Chris Bowen said the project would reduce costs for renewable hydrogen and
ensure Australia's heavy industries remain competitive.
"The cutting-edge project
will demonstrate the effectiveness of Hysata's electrolyser technology at a
scale of five megawatts with an aim of a 20 per cent increase in efficiency
compared to current electrolysers in use today," Mr Bowen said.
Hysata CEO Paul Barrett said the
"exceptional efficiency" of Hysata's electrolyser would transform the
economics of green hydrogen production.
Spun out of a University of Wollongong
lab, Hysata was established to commercialise the technology that has been
proven to use less electricity and require less cooling while producing green
hydrogen.
"The demonstration at
Stanwell's site will be key to unlocking commercial demand for Hysata's product
by proving the technology works at scale," ARENA CEO Darren Miller said.
Stanwell CEO Michael O'Rourke said
backing the commercialisation of the technology through a field pilot was
another important step in the development of Queensland's renewable hydrogen
industry.
"The development of a
renewable hydrogen industry is a key component of our energy
transformation," he said.
"The potential to utilise
high-efficiency Australian technology in large-scale hydrogen projects would be
a real advantage."
Initial development of the system
is currently under way, with the field pilot at Stanwell due to commence in
2025.
Australia faces stiff competition
from heavily subsidised rivals in the United States and elsewhere in the race
to produce the alternative fuel.
But strengthening Australia's sovereign manufacturing capabilities through this
project could pave the way for Hysata to create a secure local pipeline for
heavy industry and export to other carbon-constrained economies.
Mr Bowen said the regions can and
should have a piece of the action in supplying renewable hydrogen technology to
heavy industry at home and abroad.
Hysata has already attracted
venture capital from steel company BlueScope, superannuation fund Hostplus and
the German government.