Paul Barrett, the Dublin-born CEO of Australian green energy firm Hysata, is leading the charge to make green hydrogen more affordable by tackling one of the industry’s biggest challenges—bubble formation during electrolysis. “If you remember being a kid and blowing up a balloon or into a milkshake, your cheeks got sore because there is an energy penalty associated with bubble formation,” Barrett explains, highlighting the key obstacle his company is overcoming.

Hysata, based in Port Kembla, south of Sydney, is leveraging the well-known process of electrolysis, where electricity is used to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. However, the company’s breakthrough comes from a special material it has developed, which eliminates the bubbles that typically cling to the electrodes during the process. By incorporating a sponge-like material between the electrodes, Hysata significantly boosts the efficiency of hydrogen production, claiming to use 20% less electricity than traditional methods.

Barrett notes, “It is not unlike your kitchen sponge in terms of what it does. It is just a lot thinner. It’s pretty easy to manufacture at a super low cost.” This innovation could be crucial in advancing the production of green hydrogen, which many experts believe is key to reducing carbon emissions, especially in heavy industries like steelmaking and chemical production.

The company’s technology has already attracted significant attention and investment, with Hysata recently raising US$111 million (£87 million) to scale up its production efforts. Barrett and his team aim to position Hysata at the forefront of the global transition to green hydrogen, addressing both cost and efficiency challenges that have long plagued the sector.

Meanwhile, other research in Australia, such as the work of Dr. Ema Frery at CSIRO, is exploring the potential of naturally occurring hydrogen, known as geogenic or white hydrogen, which could offer another avenue for sustainable energy production. “What we are speaking about is natural hydrogen which is coming directly from the earth,” says Dr. Frery, highlighting the potential of Australia’s abundant natural resources to contribute to this emerging energy frontier.

Despite the optimism surrounding hydrogen’s role in the future energy landscape, there are still doubts about its viability as a major export for Australia. Amandine Denis-Ryan, CEO of the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) in Australia, argues that exporting hydrogen would “make no financial sense” due to the high costs associated with shipping and storage.

Yet, as new technologies like Hysata’s and ongoing research continue to evolve, the path forward for hydrogen remains a dynamic and critical area of focus in the global energy transition. “Hydrogen is gaining popularity all around the world,” says Bahman Shabani, a professor at RMIT University’s School of Engineering in Melbourne. The advancements being made in Australia may well contribute to hydrogen’s broader adoption and success.

(Adapted from BBC.com)