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Hydrogen fuel breakthrough in Queensland could fire up massive new export market

HERA the Stars

HERA the Stars

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For the past decade, researchers have worked on producing ultra-high purity hydrogen using a unique membrane technology.

The membrane breakthrough will allow hydrogen to be safely transported and used as a mass production energy source.

"We are certainly the first to demonstrate the production of very clean hydrogen from ammonia," Dr Dolan said.

"Today is the very first time in the world that hydrogen cars have been fuelled with a fuel derived from ammonia — carbon-free fuel."

Program leader David Harris said Australia has a huge source of renewable energy — sunlight and wind — that can be utilised to produce hydrogen.

But the highly flammable element is difficult to ship long distances because of its low density.

CSIRO researchers found a way to turn Australian-made hydrogen into ammonia, meaning it could be shipped safely to the mass market of Asia.

It is converted back into hydrogen using their membrane, then pumped into hydrogen-powered cars.

As of now, there are only five such cars in Australia, but there are tens of thousands across Japan, South Korea and Singapore.

"The key here is we can transport the hydrogen from the place where it is produced from renewable energy — let's say maybe that is in outback WA — and we can ship that form of ammonia anywhere in the world," Dr Harris said.

Independent industry association Hydrogen Mobility Australia said the technology has the potential to fill a gap in the chain to supply fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) with low-emissions hydrogen produced in Australia.
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Hydrogen fuel breakthrough in Queensland could fire up massive new export market - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Australia has been one of the countries that benefited most from China's expansion over the last two decades, 30% of our exports go to China, mainly coal, Iron ore, gold and LNG gas. We've also recently benefitted from the US/China trade war with an increase in beef and other exports China usually buy from the US.

There is however huge concern for Australia's export income with China's economy carrying so much debt and risk.

The CSIRO's discovery not only creates a safetynet for Australia (when China finally ends it's infrasrtucture insanity) but new export markets for the supply of hyrdrogen fuel.

Hydrogen vehicles have zero emmisions can be filled in 3 minutes and have a range of 800km's. Hydrogen is highly flammable and difficult to ship, however the CSIRO's membrane technology allows for Amonia to be converted to hydrogen after it has been shipped safely, overcoming the biggest hurdle with hydrogen vehicles...hydrogen fuel supply.
 
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sounds great; but, it may be too little too late for automobile applications; a few special cases, excepted.

hopefully, the latest advances in battery technology may be a game changing input for cars.
 
danielpalos said:
sounds great; but, it may be too little too late for automobile applications; a few special cases, excepted.

hopefully, the latest advances in battery technology may be a game changing input for cars.
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That was my initial thought too but per the article

As of now, there are only five such cars in Australia, but there are tens of thousands across Japan, South Korea and Singapore.
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and government is committed to building infrastructure

Ms Johnson said 15 member companies are committed to developing a hydrogen refuelling station network across Australia, along with two pilot sites including a portable refuelling truck and station in Sydney.

"In parallel, local and state governments have also committed to build hydrogen refuelling infrastructure with stations set to come online in the next 12 to18 months," she said.

Hydrogen-powered cars could be on sale in Australia within the next two years.
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zero emmissions, our air is pretty good compared to many other countries, clearly our future is the place where you can breathe properly
 
Can the refueling be done safely by consumers? Won't the stations be easy targets for terrorists and malcontents?
 
UtahBill said:
Can the refueling be done safely by consumers? Won't the stations be easy targets for terrorists and malcontents?
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Probably be handled the same way as propane where i am

It would be done by an attendant, and as they are storing mostly ammonia, it would be no more explosive than propane until converted to hydrogen which could be stored in a much smaller tank (good for say 3 hrs of supply)
 
Lord Tammerlain said:
Probably be handled the same way as propane where i am

It would be done by an attendant, and as they are storing mostly ammonia, it would be no more explosive than propane until converted to hydrogen which could be stored in a much smaller tank (good for say 3 hrs of supply)
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I am surprised that we don't see more propane tank explosions when there are so many of them at corner gas stations.
 
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