Sparc Hydrogen, University of Adelaide awarded $2.75 million AEA grant to support direct solar-to-hydrogen technology work
Sparc Hydrogen and the University of Adelaide were awarded $2.75 million under the Australia’s Economic Accelerator (AEA) Innovate program, with the grant to support activities around the company’s photocatalytic water splitting (PWS) reactor technology at Roseworthy, South Australia.
In a statement, ASX-listed graphene business Sparc Technologies – which is part of the Sparc Hydrogen joint venture along with Fortescue and the University of Adelaide – said the grant will assist operation of the first-of-its kind PWS pilot plant, R&D, and commercialisation, and is supported by matched financial and in-kind commitments from Sparc Hydrogen and its shareholders.
PWS is described elsewhere as “direct solar-to-hydrogen technology” as it does not need to convert solar energy into electricity to split water into hydrogen and oxygen through electrolysis. Sparc Hydrogen has been developing its reactor since 2022.
The new plant is being developed to pursue applications in both hydrogen and industrial heat (low grade steam.) Located at University of Adelaide’s Roseworthy campus, 50 kilometres north of the Adelaide CBD, it is expected to be commissioned this month.
According to the statement, once operational, different reactor designs and photocatalyst materials will be tested “under real world conditions in order to support and validate laboratory testing”.
“This funding allows Sparc Hydrogen to do more with the existing Stage 2 shareholder funding committed by Sparc Technologies and Fortescue earlier this year,” said Managing Director Nick O’Loughlin.
The project was one of 39 announced on Friday under the Innovate program, which supports projects that are at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 5 – 7, and run for a maximum period of 24 months.
Picture: credit University of Adelaide
Further reading
Sparc Technologies raises $2.2 million
Sparc Hydrogen reveals details of photocatalytic hydrogen pilot plant
Sparc Hydrogen pilot plant closer with new Japanese partner
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