The Hydrogen Production Technologies (HyPT-2) virtual international forum is convening at the University of Adelaide on 14-16 September, with experts meeting to discuss the latest hydrogen technology and developments.
“The Hydrogen Production Technologies (HyPT-2) forum will explore in-depth a range of current and emerging zero carbon emission (CO2-free) hydrogen production technologies,” University of Adelaide School of Physical Sciences professor Greg Metha said, who is co-convener of HyPT-2.
“A global focus on decarbonisation is driving demand for low-carbon energy solutions and rapid innovation in hydrogen production technologies.”
HyPT-2, following on from the HyPT-1 forum in 2019, will explore cheap hydrogen production, including limitations and future prospects of large-scale electrolysers – a major area of interest at the moment.
“Perfecting the technology that will produce cheap and renewable hydrogen at large scale is one of the key steps in helping the world to achieve net-zero emissions,” Metha said.
“Renewable hydrogen – produced through electrolysis from renewable energy sources – is a significant part of meeting the challenge to reduce carbon emissions, particularly for sectors and industries that cannot be readily electrified.”
According to Metha, large-scale electrolyser installations can be powered directly by renewable electricity. This helps clean energy to be used efficiently, despite the variability that characterises some renewable energy sources.
“Alternative technologies are also emerging and we will explore their potential to contribute to decarbonisation,” he said.
At the forum, 38 experts from around the world will:
- Appraise current technologies including their projected effectiveness as well as their limitations
- Discuss the challenges and limitations of emerging technologies, and how to reduce their costs
- Consider how to integrate systems, how to scale them up and increase their effectiveness.
International signatories to the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change are committed to the goal of limiting global warming to well below 1.5-2 degrees Celsius, compared to pre-industrial levels. To achieve this long-term temperature goal, countries aim to reach global peaking of greenhouse gas emissions as soon as possible, to achieve a climate neutral world by mid-century.
“Perfecting the technology that will produce cheap and renewable hydrogen at large scale is one of the key steps in helping the world to achieve net-zero emissions,” Metha said.
HyPT-2 is a University of Adelaide’s Centre for Energy Technology initiative.
Other areas that the forum will focus on are emerging electrolysis technology; technology for producing hydrogen from natural gas, bioresources and waste; and technology associated with thermochemical, photo-electrochemical and photocatalysis processes.
For more details about the HyPT-2 forum, visit https://www.adelaide.edu.au/cet/seminars-events/hypt.