Researchers aim to produce renewable hydrogen for fuel cell vehicles

Australian researchers launch new project focused on producing hydrogen for fuel cell vehicles

Researchers from the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization have launched a new $2.5 million project to help develop technology that will provide fuel cell vehicles with the hydrogen they need to operate. The 2-year project aims to produce hydrogen without also generating a large amount of harmful emissions. The project will build upon research already carried out by the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, which involved the separating of pure hydrogen from mixed gases.

Project will store hydrogen as ammonia

The project has received $1.3 million in funding from the Australian Science and Industry Endowment Fund. It will also be receiving support from gas supplier BOC, Hyundai, Toyota, and Renewable Hydrogen. These organizations have shown strong interest in developing a comprehensive hydrogen infrastructure in order to support fuel cell vehicles. The aim of the project is to allow hydrogen to be transported in the form of ammonia. When needed, ammonia can be converted into hydrogen at or very close to a fueling point.

Renewable hydrogen production may help make fuel cell vehicles more attractive

Researchers believe that the new project will lead to a much more environmentally friendly future for fuel cell vehicles and hydrogen production in general. Currently, conventional hydrogen production is very energy intensive and reliant on the use of fossil-fuels. Renewable hydrogen production has become a major priority in recent years, however, due to the growing popularity of clean transportation. Australia is home to a relatively small market for hydrogen fuel, but the country can work toward becoming a very important part of the global hydrogen supply chain, exporting the fuel to other countries where fuel cell vehicles are expected to thrive.

Australia could supply fuel to Japan in the coming years

Renewable Hydrogen has been working on developing efficient and environmentally hydrogen production technology. The company intends to export hydrogen to Japan in the coming years in order to support the country’s efforts to establish a hydrogen society. This society will rely on the use of fuel cells in order to generate electricity.