Green Hydrogen Generation Using Industrial Wastewater

December 6th, 2021

R&D Focus Areas:
Direct hydrogen carrier production, Electrolysis

Lead Organisation:
switcH2 Engineering/University of New South Wales (Sydney)

Partners:
Not applicable

Status:
Completed

Start date:
November 2019

Completion date:
Completed 2023

Key contacts:
Constantine Tsounis: constantinetsounis@gmail.com
Scientia Professor Rose Amal: r.amal@unsw.edu.au

Funding:
AUD$150,000 + AUD$220,000 committed

Project summary description:
The Particles and Catalysis Research Group is home to switcH2 Engineering, an electrolyser start-up developing systems to generate hydrogen from organic rich industrial waste, such as brewery wastewater. The team are currently designing a modular electrolyser system to be located at a brewery in New South Wales, enabling the creation of a distributed hydrogen value chain for local industry. This project aims to undertake a detailed feedstock analysis of brewery waste, design electrocatalysts to oxidize organic molecules within wastewater, and implement a scaled-up electrolysis process on-site which generates hydrogen from wastewater. The use of the wastewater will enable hydrogen production with reduced energy inputs and reduce the burden on existing freshwater resources.

The project was selected in Startmate’s Accelerator Program in 2020 and received funding, but unfortunately was delayed due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. The start-up has now ceased operation.

Related publications and key links:
Not applicable

Higher degree studies supported:
Not applicable

 

Reviewed: July 2024