Round 2 Project summaries
In this round of the Clean Technology Research and Development program, 4 grants totalling $7,009,118 were awarded.
| Organisation | Project title | Amount awarded |
|---|---|---|
| Rux Energy | Advanced metal-organic framework (MOF) – composite hybrid high efficiency hydrogen storage for aerospace | $2,999,963 |
| Allegro Energy | Long-duration energy storage prototype | $2,128,196 |
| Number 8 Bio | Scalable cattle methane mitigation technology | $292,000 |
| PlasmaLeap Technologies | On-demand green ammonia production | $1,588,959 |
Rux Energy
Advanced metal-organic framework (MOF) - composite hybrid high efficiency hydrogen storage for aerospace
Rux Energy will bring together a group of key NSW hydrogen experts and companies to develop a new hydrogen storage solution for aviation. This solution will use Rux's patented materials and its partners' lightweight composites to create a safer, more efficient system that can compete with fossil fuels, helping aviation reduce emissions faster.
Allegro Energy
Long-duration energy storage prototype
Allegro Energy is developing a low-cost, locally made energy storage solution for long-duration use. The project will create a safer, water-based battery prototype capable of storing energy for over 10 hours. Key components will be manufactured in Australia, primarily in New South Wales, to address the increasing demand for energy storage from renewable sources like solar and wind.
Number 8 Bio
Scalable cattle methane mitigation technology
This project will test and show how Number 8 Bio's top additives can reduce methane emissions in beef and dairy farming, working with the Queensland Animal Sciences Precinct.
PlasmaLeap Technologies
On-demand green ammonia production
This project will further develop and scale up a carbon-free method of combining plasma and electrolysis for producing ammonia, a key ingredient in agricultural fertiliser. The project will create a demonstration unit powered by renewable energy, helping reduce reliance on fossil fuels and cutting carbon emissions. The project will also demonstrate the cost-effectiveness and practicality of this approach compared to the current fossil-fuel-based methods.
| Organisation | Project title | Amount awarded |
|---|---|---|
| Sundrive Solar | Development of copper-based solar modules for ultra low-cost utility scale deployment | $3,000,000 |
| Hysata | Energy-efficient water electrolyser for low-cost green hydrogen | $1,500,000 |
| Southern Green Gas | Solar powered e-kerosene production module for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) | $1,000,000 |
| Quickstep Technologies | Intelligent composite hydrogen storage system | $803,968 |
Sundrive Solar
Development of copper-based solar modules for ultra low-cost utility scale deployment
Solar photovoltaics can significantly reduce emissions by replacing fossil fuel electricity sources. However, current modules rely heavily on silver, which presents cost and sustainability risks as solar manufacturing scales globally to terawatt manufacturing levels. Australian company SunDrive have solved this key issue by replacing silver with copper, an approximately 80x cheaper and 1000x more abundant metal, while achieving world-record efficiencies, which reduce costs even further. In this project, SunDrive will apply their unique technology to high efficiency bifacial modules which can reduce the cost of Australian electricity from ~ $50 to ~ $35/MWh by 2030.
Hysata
Energy-efficient water electrolyser for low-cost green hydrogen
Hysata is developing a new type of water electrolyser that promises to deliver the world's lowest cost 'green' hydrogen. Green hydrogen, made from water using renewable energy, will be vital to achieving 'net-zero' emissions in the global economy. It is estimated that 15-25% of energy in a net-zero global economy, worth >$1 trillion p.a., will be provided by green hydrogen (to decarbonise sectors that cannot use renewable electricity directly, like heavy transport, chemicals and steel). The Hysata electrolyser is highly efficient and has a simple design that makes it cheap to manufacture and easy to scale.
Southern Green Gas
Solar powered e-kerosene production module for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF)
Southern Green Gas is a next generation renewable energy development company aiming to bring breakthrough technology to the global energy industry. SGG's project to develop a solar powered e-kerosene production module for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) aims to fill an important gap in the decarbonisation strategies for the hard-to-abate aviation sector. SGG's novel approach to carbon neutral fuels involves developing small process modules for low-cost mass manufacture. The e-kerosene module extracts hydrogen (via water) and carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and combines them in a reactor to form kerosene in a completely solar powered and renewable process.
Quickstep Technologies
Intelligent composite hydrogen storage system
Develop a carbon fibre filament winder system in New South Wales to build Type IV hydrogen tanks for ground transportation and aviation applications. Our hydrogen storage solution will be based on New South Wales's Omni tankers carbon fibre tank technology with thermoplastic liner developed for large tanks. We will adapt their filament winder system used for transport of bulk chemicals (very large formats, low pressures) to high pressure (350-750 bar) applications for ground vehicles and small aircrafts. We will integrate advanced sensorisation to identify potential failure modes, predict tank usage life, and design an industrial process to manufacture tanks in large numbers.