$3.1 million ARENA grant fuels mega-scale liquid hydrogen storage

A team of University of Melbourne researchers will work with leading Australian and international industry partners to develop mega-scale liquid hydrogen storage systems and infrastructure for energy export terminals and vessels.

The team aims to help build a clean, safe and competitive hydrogen industry in Australia and beyond. The project has been made possible through a $3.1 million grant from the Federal Government’s Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), awarded through its Hydrogen R&D funding round, which aims to help Australia meet its hydrogen export goals and decarbonisation targets.

Project leader Dr Shanaka Kristombu Baduge, a postdoctoral research fellow in the Department of Infrastructure Engineering in the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, said the team will develop and integrate cutting-edge technologies and cryogenic testing capabilities at the extremely low temperatures needed to liquefy and store hydrogen.

“These innovations are critical for enabling large-scale hydrogen export and import operations and will position Australia at the forefront of the emerging hydrogen economy,” Dr Baduge said.

“Mega-scale storage tanks with higher safety and lower operational and capital cost are essential for Australia to achieve the throughput needed for export and transport through ships.”

Together with Professor Priyan Mendis from the Department of Infrastructure Engineering and Associate Professor Gang (Kevin) Li from the Department of Chemical Engineering, the team will collaborate with a consortium of innovative partners, including GenH2 Discover Hydrogen, Energy Evolution LLC, Omni Tanker Pty Ltd, ETA Space LLC, McDermott’s CB&I and Rotork Australia Pty Ltd.

Find out more here.