First Graphene has announced its partnership in a collaborative project aimed at advancing low-carbon hydrogen production and creating safer, more efficient storage solutions. The Company’s role will involve leveraging its expertise in graphene nanoplatelets to enhance the strength and impermeability of cryogenic hydrogen storage tanks, contributing to a project valued at around $3.72 million.
The project brings together UK and Australian expertise to develop and commercialize novel light-weight impermeable cryogenic all-composite tanks (Type-V) for the safe storage of liquid hydrogen.
First Graphene is one of nine entities involved in the consortia and will contribute $382,000 towards the project, of which $267,000 will be received by the company through the Renewable Hydrogen Innovative Partnership Program (RHIPP).
The funding will support First Graphene’s role in the project, which is focused on developing graphene enhanced resins to reduce hydrogen permeability and increase strength in composite systems.
CEO Michael Bell says a challenge the hydrogen industry faces is efficient storage and distribution. This is why the project is looking to accelerate solutions that can feed into a more efficient and safe supply chain, with immediate application to the aerospace sector. “Graphene has a clear role to play in the manufacture of improved lightweight composite pressure vessels with the ability to store cryogenic fuels such as liquid hydrogen,” Bell says. “With one foot in each country, First Graphene can leverage our extensive practical experience in the preparation of functionalized nanomaterials through manufacturing in Perth, Western Australia, together with deep technical expertise in the characterization and formulation of graphene-based resin systems through our technical team in Manchester, UK.”
Bell adds that the project pushes the boundaries in developing a solution to serve the hydrogen storage market.
The hydrogen project is designed to facilitate a disruptive solution for the production and storage of liquid hydrogen, enabling a new generation of mechanically robust impermeable tanks with enhanced safety through integrating a leak-before-break and a range of other features.
First Graphene says the project will explore hydrogen gas production through a novel plastic recycling process developed by Australian Sunlight Group, known as Flash Joule Heating, before the hydrogen is purified and compressed into liquid.
On the storage front, the project aims to develop and commercialize Graphene Innovations Manchester’s Type-V tank manufacturing process to create an impermeable cryogenic tank for liquid hydrogen storage.
As part of the plan for graphene to strengthen storage solution, First Graphene will impart knowledge and expertise of graphene nanoplatelets to manufacture an array of materials tailored for optimal performance in composite pressure vessels to minimize hydrogen permeating. It will also seek to introduce other application benefits including enhanced fire retardancy and inherent strength.
The Hydrogen Production and Safe Storage for Utilization in Mobility Project is led by Graphene Innovations Manchester. Other industry players include Australian Sunlight Group, aerospace industrial partners Slingsby Advanced Composite and Hydrogen Aircraft Services.
