With groundbreaking findings published today in the top-tier peer-reviewed scientific journal Nature Communications, Australian startup Hysata’s has been recognized on the world scale.
The study shows that Hysata’s ‘capillary-fed electrolysis cell’ can produce green hydrogen from water at a cell energy efficiency of 98 percent, far exceeding the International Renewable Energy Agency’s (IRENA) 2050 target and significantly better than existing electrolyzer technologies, resulting in a hydrogen production cost of less than A$2/kg (US$1.50/kg).
Green hydrogen is critical for decarbonizing hard-to-decarbonize industries such as steel, heavy transportation, and chemicals. Green hydrogen consumption is expected to expand to 500-800 million tonnes per year by 2050 to fulfill demand in these sectors, generating a new multi-trillion-dollar economy, according to the Energy Transitions Commission.
However, because of the poor efficiency of present electrolyzers, green hydrogen is now too expensive to compete with fossil fuels. The ultra-high efficiency electrolyzer developed by Hysata will make green hydrogen competitive years sooner than previously thought, speeding global decarbonization and enhancing energy security.
Hysata is commercializing the technology, which was conceived by scientists at the University of Wollongong and is backed by IP Group and the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC).
Hysata’s CEO, Paul Barrett, stated that the business is on track to commercialize the world’s most efficient electrolyzer and achieve gigawatt-scale hydrogen production capability by 2025.
“Green hydrogen and electrolyzers are gaining a lot of traction as the world moves closer to net zero. Which technologies succeed will ultimately be determined by economics, and Hysata is well-positioned to dominate in this huge new global market thanks to our world-beating efficiency.
“Our electrolyzer will create the cheapest hydrogen in the world, saving hydrogen producers billions of dollars in energy expenses and allowing green hydrogen to compete with fossil-fuel-derived hydrogen.
“By the mid-2020s, our technology will enable hydrogen generation at a cost of less than $1.50 per kilogram, much ahead of schedule for Australia and the rest of the world. This is crucial for commercializing green hydrogen and decarbonizing hard-to-abate industries.
“Hysata has enlisted the help of some of Australia’s best minds to position the country as a major manufacturer and exporter of electrolyzers, with plans in the works to develop a pilot electrolyzer manufacturing plant and hire dozens of additional highly experienced professionals by 2022.
“Green hydrogen is expected to be a trillion-dollar business, with the electrolyzer serving as its backbone. We are preparing to scale up as rapidly as feasible in order to attain net-zero. Our electrolyzer’s attractive design makes it ideal for large manufacturing.”
This substantial advancement in hydrogen technology is expected to boost the global hydrogen economy and lower the cost of green hydrogen production in Australia and throughout the world, establishing Australia as a leading manufacturer of electrolyzers and green hydrogen producer.
The general architecture of the Hysata electrolyzer system, according to Gerry Swiegers, Chief Technology Officer of Hysata, is simpler than previous technologies:
“Electrolysers have been around for 200 years, but the vast amounts of renewable energy necessary to make green hydrogen, as well as the total expense of electrolyzers today, have hindered widespread adoption of green hydrogen.”
“Hysata’s whole electrolyzer system is intended for ease of manufacture, scaling, and installation, with overall system efficiency of 95 percent, equal to 41.5 kWh/kg, compared to 75 percent or less for existing electrolyzer technologies. This will dramatically cut both the capital and operating expenses of producing green hydrogen for hydrogen producers.”
“Hysata is thrilled to be at the forefront of this technological revolution, offering an entirely new type of electrolyzer that is as significant as the transition from internal combustion engines to electric motors,” Swiegers said.
