Future Energy Exports Cooperative Research Center (FEnEx CRC) and GenH2 Corp have announced a major agreement to engineer and demonstrate a high-efficiency hydrogen liquefier capable of producing up to 100 kilograms of hydrogen per day.
This initiative aims to significantly reduce the costs associated with hydrogen production, storage, and export while focusing on critical research involving mixed refrigerants for hydrogen liquefaction.
Hydrogen is increasingly recognised as a clean energy source, generating no greenhouse gases when utilised, particularly in fuel cell vehicles and power generation.
Both industry analysts and government bodies are optimistic about its widespread adoption across various sectors, including transportation.
Eric May, CEO of FEnEx CRC, highlighted the project’s significance, stating: “Our intention is to use the liquefier we build with GenH2 to validate the process simulations and thermodynamic models we have developed; then we will be in a better position to design improved, high-efficiency mixed refrigerant cycles to operate at much larger scales than the one used to validate it.”
The liquefier will be located at the Kwinana Energy Transformation Hub (KETH) in Western Australia, with financial backing from the Cooperative Research Centres (CRC) Program, the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), and the Western Australian government’s Investment Attraction Fund.
Greg Gosnell, CEO of GenH2, expressed pride in the collaboration, stating: “We are very proud to participate in this important initiative to advance research focused on improving efficiencies in hydrogen liquefaction.
“It is indeed an honour to provide our world-class hydrogen liquefier to this innovative research organisation to support an important project with the potential to advance the global industry.”
The proposed hydrogen liquefier will utilise GenH2’s proprietary reverse Brayton cycle refrigerator technology, which is designed for optimal liquefaction efficiency.
The FEnEx CRC team will work closely with GenH2 engineers to implement necessary modifications for testing mixed refrigerants in hydrogen liquefaction processes, aiming for enhanced efficiency.
This collaboration marks a significant step forward in the pursuit of sustainable energy solutions and positions both organisations at the forefront of hydrogen technology innovation.