After holding the opening ceremony at the University of Adelaide’s Roseworthy Campus on Tuesday (24 June), Sparc Technologies (ASX:SPN) expects to commence commissioning its hydrogen pilot plant in South Australia next month.
Using concentrated solar mirrors for semi-continuous operation, the Roseworthy pilot plant aims to advance the company’s photocatalytic water splitting reactor to a technology readiness level six from its current level five.
The South Australian Government and Shinshu University in Japan are joint venture partners in the pilot plant, with representatives in attendance at the opening ceremony.
University of Adelaide Deputy Vice-Chancellor Anton Middelberg says with the support of key industry partners, this plant is bolstering new pathways for research conducted in South Australia.
“This project aims to respond to one of the great challenges of our times: the development of green energy solutions for a sustainable future for society,” Middelberg says.
Sparc Managing Director Nick O’Loughlin says Roseworthy is a key step towards the commercialisation of photocatalytic water splitting, pioneering a global research and development facility.
“In an environment where major challenges exist for hydrogen projects due to the high cost of power, the requirement for new solutions to unlock low-cost green hydrogen without relying on electrolysers has never been higher,” O’Loughlin says.
As the globe makes a conscious effort to limit its carbon footprint and meet net zero, photocatalytic water splitting aids the production of green hydrogen, relieving stresses on solar and wind farms.
Sparc Hydrogen uses direct solar power from sunlight as the energy input for the reactor, delivering emissions free hydrogen and industrial heat at a low production cost.
Write to Maddison Elliott at Mining.com.au
Images: Sparc Technologies
