Hysata, a pioneering hydrogen technology company hailing from New South Wales, is set to deploy a groundbreaking 5 MW electrolyser adjacent to the Stanwell Power Station in Queensland. This bold move comes as part of a groundbreaking commercial-scale demonstration of the company’s next-generation capillary-fed electrolyser cell technology.
Originating as a spin-off from the University of Wollongong (UOW), Hysata has secured over $23 million (USD 14.87 million) in funding from both the Australian and Queensland governments. This financial support is directed towards expediting the development and commercialization of its innovative electrolyser cell technology, known for its exceptional efficiency.
The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has pledged an impressive $20.9 million to fund the demonstration project, while the Queensland government-owned power company Stanwell Corporation is contributing $3 million. In addition, Stanwell Corporation will provide the essential site and facilities for the field deployment of the electrolyser.
At the heart of Hysata’s technology lies an ultra-high efficiency hydrogen electrolyser. The revolutionary design aims to minimize resistance during the electrolysis process, resulting in the potential to drastically alter the economics of green hydrogen production. Traditional electrolysis systems often grapple with energy losses due to resistance and gaseous bubble formation on electrodes, ultimately reducing overall efficiency. Hysata’s technology, however, showcases remarkable promise by achieving hydrogen production with an impressive 95% efficiency, significantly surpassing the 75% efficiency of incumbent technologies.
The remarkable efficiency gains not only lower input costs but also contribute to reduced balance-of-plant expenses by minimizing electrical resistance and cooling requirements. This efficient pathway holds the potential to substantially lower the levelized cost of hydrogen production, marking a major step towards the commercial viability of renewable hydrogen.
Hysata’s strategic plan includes the development and testing of a 5 MW electrolyser unit at its newly established 8,000 sqm manufacturing facility in Port Kembla. Following rigorous testing and validation, the electrolyser will be relocated to Queensland, where it will be installed adjacent to the Stanwell Power Station. The site boasts ample land, water resources, and grid connection capacity, ensuring a conducive environment for this game-changing technology.
The project’s field pilot at Stanwell is slated to commence in 2025. Hysata’s CEO, Paul Barrett, views this project as a pivotal moment, driving the company towards fulfilling an impressive 9.4 GW pipeline of signed conditional orders and letters of intent. With plans to establish a 100 MW per annum production line, Hysata envisions scaling up its capacity rapidly, revolutionizing the hydrogen landscape on a giga-scale.
ARENA’s Chief Executive Officer, Darren Miller, views this project as a crucial milestone in unlocking commercial demand for Hysata’s revolutionary technology. The support and funding provided by ARENA, alongside the contributions from Germany’s Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), further underscore the international significance of this endeavor.
Hysata’s journey is poised to not only contribute to Australia’s sovereign manufacturing capabilities but also to reshape the global energy landscape. With environmental benefits and economic growth on the horizon, green hydrogen’s potential is illuminated by Hysata’s ground-breaking innovations.
