Enterprize finalist drives cheap, eco-friendly energy source

Innovative technology developed by a finalist in The University of Queensland Business School's $100,000 Enterprize business competition could see hydrogen, an essential energy source for industry, commercially produced in a cleaner, greener, yet still cost-effective way.

Globally, more than 65 million tonnes of hydrogen are produced each year for use in the petroleum, chemical, steel and food industries.

Most of this hydrogen comes from natural gas, oil and coal, extracted using a process called steam reforming (high-temperature steam separates hydrogen from carbon in these fossil fuels).

But this process is greenhouse gas intensive: for every 1 tonne of hydrogen produced this way, approximately 12 tonnes of carbon dioxide is emitted into the atmosphere.

The AquaHydrex team, inspired by the processes involved in plant photosynthesis, has developed a synthetic catalyst that uses sunlight to split water into its component parts of hydrogen and oxygen.

Their water-splitting photoelectrochemical cells would be “printed'' on low-cost polymer (plastic) and installed in a solar-power system on the site of the industrial plant requiring hydrogen.

Their technology is the culmination of eight years' research within the ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science (ACES), based in Wollongong.

ACES Director of Strategic Development, Chris Gilbey, said: “AquaHydrex enables production of hydrogen on-site with low-cost plant and equipment, at low operating cost, and it's a greener way of producing it.

“It has the potential to transform the energy sector.

"There is a massive demand for hydrogen around the world each year.

"Many people don't realise how much hydrogen is involved in what they use each day.

"For instance, it is added to the petrol they put in their cars.

“By changing the way hydrogen can be manufactured for industry we are tackling the issue of reducing carbon emissions, and also doing it in an inexpensive way that's attractive for industry.

“Our target is to deliver to the market an on-site device, fully integrated with the hydrogen users' systems, that would produce 100kg of hydrogen a day.”

The UQ Business School Enterprize competition, now in its 11th year, is Australia's richest business competition.

Mr Gilbey said winning the $100,000 prize would be “like winning MasterChef”.

“To be chosen as a finalist has already created a focused sense of purpose for the researchers, to see that there is external validation of their efforts,'' he said.

Since its inception in 2000, the Enterprize competition has assisted many successful businesses, including Fusion Sport, Codesion (formerly CVSDude), BakBalls, last year's winner Southern Innovation and finalist last year Vaxxas (which is pioneering the Nanopatch needle-free vaccine delivery system).

This year's Enterprize finalists were chosen from a record number of entries received.

Academic Dean and Head of the UQ Business School Professor Iain Watson said the concept business plans that the finalists submitted outlined smart, innovative ideas and products with the ability to clearly articulate their vision for their businesses.

The finalists will be interviewed by an expert judging panel on September 16 and have their final chance to impress the judges at a “Pitch Day'' in October.

The winner will be announced at the pitch day, which will be attended by venture capitalists and angel investors.

For more information visit www.business.uq.edu.au/enterprize

Provided by University of Queensland