On behalf of the Australian Government, the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) today announced it has awarded $59.1 million in funding across 21 research projects to support research and development (R&D) and commercialisation activities covering renewable hydrogen and low emissions iron & steel.
The funding has been provided to research teams from some of Australia's top universities, research organisations, startups and companies.
ARENA CEO Darren Miller said funding early-stage R&D and pushing innovation was at the core of ARENA's mission in supporting the global transition to net zero emissions.
"We're backing Australian technological innovation that helps build our clean industries and underpins our ambitions of becoming a renewable energy superpower."
An initial $25 million in funding was provided for each of the two funding rounds - Renewable Hydrogen and Iron & Steel. Due to the quality of applications, ARENA has increased the total funding amount to $59.1 million. Grant funding for each successful applicant ranges between $1.3 million and $5 million.
Funding for the R&D projects will be provided over two stages, an initial core research stage followed by a research commercialisation stage aimed at scaling up and demonstrating application of research breakthroughs in the market.
"ARENA has a strong track record in funding and supporting early-stage innovation. Through our strategic priorities, we have highlighted the importance of renewable hydrogen and low emissions metals growing to become a significant export industry," Mr Miller said.
"Innovation starts in the lab, and we have the best minds taking our decarbonisation efforts to the next level - to the benefit of all Australians through jobs, lower emissions and cheaper energy."
Australia is the world's largest exporter of iron ore, supplying up to 53% of international exports each year. Decarbonisation through the iron & steel value chain will have a significant impact on global emissions reduction.
The Iron & Steel R&D round aims to support a step change in emissions abatement pathways in the production of iron and steel, and encourage additional research capacity in these sectors, facilitating collaboration between research groups and industry.
The Hydrogen R&D round aims to accelerate the commercialisation of renewable hydrogen through innovation in hydrogen production, storage and distribution technologies. Renewable hydrogen is also expected to play a large role in reducing emissions in hard-to-abate sectors like iron and steel production.
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The successful recipients across both R&D funding rounds are:
Iron & Steel Funding Round
Recipient: The University of Wollongong
Project: Australian Pilbara Iron Ores in an Electric Smelting Furnace Process
ARENA funding ($): $2 million
Total Project Cost ($): $4.2 million
Recipient: Australian National University
Project: De-risking large-scale Australian fine-ore hydrogen ironmaking
ARENA funding ($): 4.8 million
Total Project Cost ($): $13.7 million
Recipient: The University of Newcastle
Project: Electric Smelting of Australian Hemamite-Geothite DRI
ARENA funding ($): $2.9 million
Total Project Cost ($): $5.9 million
Recipient: MIH2 Pty Ltd (subsidiary of FFI)
Project: Low Temperature Direct Electrochemical Reduction for Zero Emissions Iron
ARENA funding ($): $5 million
Total Project Cost ($): $42.6 million
Recipient: HILT CRC Limited
Project: Upgrading Iron Ore for DRI Production Using Seawater Reverse Osmosis Brines Project
ARENA funding ($): $1.4 million
Total Project Cost ($): $5.7 million
Recipient: Macquarie University
Project: Upcycling of steelmaking slag for material reuse
ARENA funding ($): $1.5 million
Total Project Cost ($): $7.2 million
Recipient: CSIRO
Project: Low temperature iron ore agglomeration process for Australian iron ores
ARENA funding ($): $2.6 million
Total Project Cost ($): $5.3 million
Recipient: University of New South Wales
Project: Blast Furnace Innovations: Integrating New Injections & Burdens for Sustainable, Low-Carbon Ironmaking Transitions
ARENA funding ($): $4.4 million
Total Project Cost ($): $18.1 million
TOTAL ARENA FUNDING: $24.6 million
TOTAL PROJECT COST: $102.7 million
Hydrogen R&D Funding Round
Recipient: Future Energy Exports CRC Limited
Project: Development and demonstration of safe, efficient hydrogen liquefaction through optimised mixed refrigerants and plant design
ARENA funding ($): $2.1 million
Total Project Cost ($): $6.3 million
Recipient: Cavendish Renewable Technology Pty Ltd
Project: Efficient, scalable and modular ammonia to hydrogen/electricity conversion system development and demonstration
ARENA funding ($): $1.6 million
Total Project Cost ($): $4.3 million
Recipient: Hysata Pty Ltd
Project: High-temperature, Ultra-high Efficiency Green Hydrogen Production
ARENA funding ($): $3 million
Total Project Cost ($): $5.9 million
Recipient: Curtin University
Project: Hydrogen export using a powder
ARENA funding ($): $5 million
Total Project Cost ($): $16.5 million
Recipient: Monash University
Project: Lowering the cost of proton exchange water electrolysis systems
ARENA funding ($): $2.3 million
Total Project Cost ($): $7.2 million
Recipient: Australian National University
Project: Accelerating the Commercialisation of the Direct Solar-to-Hydrogen Technology
ARENA funding ($): $2.2 million
Total Project Cost ($): $7.5 million
Recipient: University of Melbourne
Project: Mega-Scale Liquid H2 Storage with Super-Insulated Full-Containment and Zero-Boil-Off
ARENA funding ($): $3.1 million
Total Project Cost ($): $6.6 million
Recipient: The University of Sydney
Project: Advanced Manufacturing Alkaline Electrolyser Cell-Stacks for Affordable and Scalable Green Hydrogen Production
ARENA funding ($): $2.2 million
Total Project Cost ($): $5.9 million
Recipient: University of New South Wales
Project: Production, Multiphase Electrolysers for Renewable Ammonia Production
ARENA funding ($): $1.9 million
Total Project Cost ($): $7.2 million
Recipient: Australian National University
Project: H2 storage enabled by nano-scaffolded gas hydrate capsules with ground-source energy utilisation
ARENA funding ($): $1.4 million
Total Project Cost ($): $5.5 million
Recipient: Juniper Ionics Pty Ltd
Project: Capital Cost reduction in electrochemical ammonia synthesis
ARENA funding ($): $2.5 million
Total Project Cost ($): $6.5 million
Recipient: Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT)
Project: Solar-Energy-Driven Modular Floatable Device for Scalable Green Hydrogen Production from Wastewater
ARENA funding ($): $2 million
Total Project Cost ($): $5.9 million
Recipient: MIH2 Pty Ltd (subsidiary of FFI)
Project: Scale up and demonstration of next generation CSIRO axial flow electrolyser for green hydrogen production
ARENA funding ($): $4.9 million
Total Project Cost ($): $14.3 million
TOTAL ARENA FUNDING: $34.2 million
TOTAL PROJECT COST: $99.6 million
