SIQENS, a hydrogen and fuel cell solutions pioneer, and CSIRO are collaborating. Collaboration will create an electrochemical hydrogen separation demonstration unit (EHS).
The CSIRO’s new Hydrogen Technology Development Center in Melbourne will house the unit.
A SIQENS stack is testing hydrogen separation from gas streams with high and low hydrogen contents at the CSIRO Hydrogen Technology Development Center in Melbourne. Munich is sending a whole demonstration plant to Melbourne. Last-mile distribution of hydrogen is solved via electrochemical hydrogen separation.
The SIQENS Ecoport fuel cell product range uses the SIQENS HT-PEM stack (high temperature polymer membrane) for its EHS technology. The stack has been commercially operating for over five years. Besides electricity generation, fuel cell devices can separate and purify hydrogen in gas streams.
Energy-efficient and scalable hydrogen separation and purification
A catalyst on the stack membrane attracts hydrogen molecules in hydrogen-containing gas streams. A little voltage divides hydrogen molecules into protons and electrons.
The membrane permits only hydrogen protons. They become hydrogen molecules when they reunite. The technique produces high-purity hydrogen for chemical applications, network decarbonization, and fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs).
Commercializing Australia’s first EHS unit
CSIRO and SIQENS aim to commercialize Australia’s first EHS unit. This comprises green hydrogen end use applications to use gas network infrastructure for low-cost hydrogen transportation.
Australia’s National Hydrogen Strategy contradicts its 2030 goal of leading the global hydrogen and hydrogen-related technology sector. Multiple gas network operators have launched renewable hydrogen-natural gas blending demonstration projects in numerous jurisdictions.
Hydrogen transportation using natural gas infrastructure
These projects use natural gas storage and transport infrastructure to decarbonize by replacing some natural gas with renewable hydrogen. The blended gas mixture often replaces pure natural gas.
EHS-extracted hydrogen for drive and compression turbines or mobility applications can accelerate network decarbonization and deliver green hydrogen in places with the greatest carbon savings.
