In Australia, the Star Scientific startup has developed the HERO technology, which turns hydrogen and oxygen into superheated steam at 700ºC, capable of driving a power plant turbine.
Among other things, it can be used to modernize coal-fired power plants, reports Bloomberg.
If the technology can be scaled up, it would allow operators of coal-fired power plants to retrofit generators to run on green hydrogen without having to build an entirely new plant.
"We believe there is a lot of opportunity in existing steam turbines that have some longevity," said Star Scientific Chairman Andrew Horvath.
He also noted that the technology does not burn hydrogen.
Horvat added that HERO has attracted interest from dozens of potential customers, including water treatment companies, brewers, dairy companies and slaughterhouses.
A pilot project to test the system at a plant operated by a local unit of Mars Inc. is awaiting regulatory approval, likely in 2023.
"This technology "offers enormous potential for the food industry," said Bill Hague, general manager of Mars Food Australia. "Thermal energy is critical to the cooking business, and this technology has the potential to create limitless heat without burning and with zero emissions."
Scott Donn, a professor at Newcastle University's School of Ecology and Biological Sciences, said Star Scientific's technology could be extended and used for a variety of applications, both for direct energy generation through a turbine and for thermal heating.
Star Scientific does not plan to conduct a public sale of shares, because it has a unique financing model that is currently confidential.
Currently, the company uses grey hydrogen, which is usually made by combining steam and natural gas, which produces carbon dioxide. Scaling up applications like Star Scientific's heating device will require significantly more green hydrogen, which is made by electrolyzing water.
"HERO can use any color of hydrogen, but we prefer green, so the process is carbon-free," Horvath said.
The article noted that Australia has begun investing billions of dollars in the production of pure hydrogen. According to Rystad Energy, the country has about 95 GW of hydrogen electrolyser projects under development, about a quarter of the world's total, including plans by BP Plc and Fortescue Metals Group.
Earlier, EcoPolitic wrote, that in the US, Utility Global invented the industry's first technology non-electrical electrolysis platform to convert low-cost Net Zero hydrogen.
As EcoPolitic previously reported, Canada and Germany will sign an agreement on production green hydrogen for export.
