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Membranes a Match for Hydrogen

September 9, 2020

A unique membrane technology developed in Australia is coming to Canada for scaling up. NORAM and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Australia’s national science agency, have agreed to collaborate on the design and engineering of a hydrogen production and separation demonstration facility. This is progressively aimed at establishing a pathway for the safe volume transportation of hydrogen to export markets.

CSIRO has developed and piloted a tubular vanadium-based membrane that will allow Australian hydrogen to be produced as ammonia for bulk shipment, before being converted again to ultra-high purity hydrogen suitable for use in fuel cells, at or near the point of use. NORAM has been extensively involved in the development of high-temperature membrane separation of hydrogen, an expertise that ultimately saw it acquire an early pioneer in the field, Membrane Reactor Technologies.

In July of this year, the Canadian Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association (CHFCA) and Australian Hydrogen Council (AHC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to strengthen collaboration between Canada and Australia in the commercial deployment of zero-emission hydrogen and fuel cell technologies. This builds on a growing hydrogen thrust in Canada, Australia, and Europe, as governments leverage resources to address the growing challenges of meeting their climate commitments, and facilitating a green economic recovery.

> For more information see: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-08-08/hydrogen-fuel-breakthrough-csiro-game-changer-export-potential/10082514 and https://www.chfca.ca/2020/07/07/canada-and-australia-sign-mou-to-increase-collaboration-in-hydrogen-and-fuel-cell-technologies/?MvBriefArticleId=12964

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