Australia is spearheading a revolutionary leap in green hydrogen production and transport by developing powdered hydrogen, a game-changing innovation that could redefine how clean energy is stored, shipped, and utilised globally. Led by Curtin University and supported by Velox
Led by Curtin University and supported by Velox Energy Materials, this groundbreaking initiative has received a significant boost with $5 million in funding from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA). The project aims to solve one of the green hydrogen industry’s most persistent challenges: efficient and safe transport over long distances.
Why Powdered Hydrogen?
Hydrogen is a clean fuel with vast potential to decarbonise sectors ranging from heavy industry to transport. However, traditional methods of transporting hydrogen — such as liquefaction or compression, are energy-intensive, costly, and carry safety risks. Powdered hydrogen offers a novel alternative. In this new method, hydrogen is bound into a solid-state material that resembles powder. This powder is far more stable than gaseous or liquid hydrogen, simplifying handling, shipping, and storage. It also reduces the need for high-pressure tanks or cryogenic cooling.
The Curtin University Breakthrough
The research team at Curtin University, in partnership with Velox Energy Materials, has developed a process that allows green hydrogen, hydrogen produced using renewable energy, to be embedded into advanced materials in a powdered form. Once delivered to its destination, the hydrogen can be released through a controlled chemical reaction, making the technology suitable for various end-users, including power plants, industrial processes, and fuel cell vehicles.
“This method could allow us to export hydrogen using existing infrastructure, such as bulk powder shipping, making it a truly scalable solution,” said a spokesperson from Curtin’s School of Molecular and Life Sciences.
Companies Leading the Deployment
Several companies are working in parallel or collaborating with Curtin’s team to bring powdered hydrogen to commercial reality:
- Velox Energy Materials, the primary industry partner in the Curtin project, is focusing on advanced materials that can store hydrogen efficiently in solid form. Velox is working to scale the technology and make it viable for export markets such as Japan, South Korea, and Germany.
- H2Store, an Australian start-up, has been developing hydrogen storage solutions using metal hydride powders. Their work aligns closely with powdered hydrogen technologies and demonstrates growing commercial interest in solid-state storage.
- Hydrexia, another Australian firm, has been pioneering hydrogen storage using magnesium-based hydride powders, which are similar in application to the Curtin-Velox innovation. Hydrexia has already launched pilot projects in Asia.
Future Implications
Powdered hydrogen could help position Australia as a global leader in the green hydrogen export market. With abundant solar and wind resources, Australia is well-placed to produce hydrogen at scale. The ability to export it efficiently and safely would give the country a major strategic advantage in the global clean energy race.
In particular, nations with limited renewable energy potential but strong decarbonisation targets, such as Japan, South Korea, and much of Europe, are expected to be major importers of Australian hydrogen in the coming years.
Finally
Australia’s powdered hydrogen initiative is a prime example of how scientific innovation can overcome longstanding technical barriers in clean energy. With the support of government funding and collaboration between academia and industry, this technology is on track to revolutionise the global hydrogen economy — in a form that’s stable, safe, and remarkably efficient.
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