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NH3 Down Under: Australian Export Market for Renewable H2 Thanks to an Innovative Membrane

5/23/2017

1 Comment

 
Australia’s Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) has had its researchers investigating how to separate high-purity hydrogen from a variety of mixed gases over the years.  Recently they have joined much of the energy community in noting the beneficial H2 storage capacity of NH3 (remember, it can store H2 in 17.6% of its molecular weight!).  CSIRO’s most recent and innovative contribution is the development of a thin metal membrane that can separate H2 from NH3 used as a H2 carrier.  Green Car Congress has summarized their process and use of the membrane as follows:

“The renewable hydrogen would first be converted to ammonia (in combination with nitrogen produced in a renewables-driven air separation unit), then be exported piggybacking on the existing transport infrastructure for ammonia, and finally be extracted from the ammonia using the membrane system…”

CSIRO hopes to use this new technology in a variety of applications, noting particularly its potential for use in vehicles.  With regards to the latter, this membrane technology has the potential to be used modularly and thus the ability to be a component of refueling stations. 

The organization is now in the early steps of a two-year project that aims show the potential of their membrane in a hydrogen production system.  They have a goal of obtaining at least 5 kg/day of hydrogen directly—all from ammonia directly.  Wow!
​
As might be expected there is widespread support for their technology and its implementation, with a recent grant of $1.7 million from SIEF and positive feedback from BOC, Hyundai, Toyota, and Renewable Hydrogen Pty Ltd.  While no one can know the future of energy, it appears that everything is coming up ammonia.
1 Comment
Nick Warren link
1/1/2019 09:29:44 am

It is somewhat disappointing the oil & gas industry appears to be quite content in preoccupying itself with comfort zone activity. It appears unwilling / incapable of throwing its considerable political muscle behind a renewable, zero-carbon and sustainable future vision to which many of its current skillsets are admirably suited. Future uncertainty has induced a state of paralysis akin to the rabbit caught in headlights. A vast swathe of hardware - the world's oil tanker fleet - is a prime candidate for conversion to ammonia, cementing the industries grip for the foreseeable future on global energy production and transportation, an activity which has proved exceptionally lucrative in the past. Currently the industry has appreciable revenue to proactively reshape world energy to its advantage. it does not realise it has a golden opportunity - but it will not stay this way for long. Current revenues are being frittered away by continuing overly-generous dividends to shareholders with tacit approval from governments. The opportunity to proactively re-shape the future will evaporate when world oil demand peaks and declines. By that time downsizing will have taken its toll on execution capabilities, in all probability leaving the industry watching the world advance technologically from the sidelines. The real irony here is the world financial system. It is still betting huge sums on oil exploration and failing to realize the usual rewards for success cannot materialise in a falling demand backdrop. The key metric which might invoke a change of heart is 3 consecutive declines in quarterly oil demand. This is likely to happen in the early twenties. However, having grown used to successful inactivity in the interim, it is finely balanced as to whether the industry will then have the resources or will to act in any influential way. The industry has a fantastic reputation for big-spend visionary projects. Re-invention however, doesn't seem to be one of them.

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