Sparc Hydrogen has begun constructing a pilot plant in South Australia using its photocatalytic water splitting (PWS) production process to generate hydrogen.
Incitias Pty is leading construction under its engineering, procurement and construction management (EPCM) contract at the University of Adelaide’s Roseworthy Campus, after the Light Regional Council approved planning consent. Sparc also secured the first patent for its licensed PWS reactor technology in Q1 2025.
The pilot plant, set for commissioning in mid-2025, will test reactor designs and photocatalyst materials under concentrated solar conditions.
The Sparc Technologies, Fortescue and University of Adelaide joint venture aims to advance its PWS reactor from TRL-5 to TRL-6, validate real-world performance and refine engineering and safety protocols.
In an online statement, Sparc Hydrogen explained its production process. “Crucially, PWS does not rely on renewable electricity sources such as solar or wind farms, not expensive electrolysers, to produce hydrogen from water.
“This addresses a fundamental issue in the nascent green hydrogen industry – the cost of renewable electricity. [The] technology employs photocatalyst materials and sunlight to produce green hydrogen directly from water.”
Nick O’Loughlin, Sparc Managing Director, added, “It is very rewarding to see progress being made both at Roseworthy and in the factory towards delivering a globally leading facility for green hydrogen production via PWS.
“In an environment where major challenges exist for hydrogen projects due to the high cost of power, the requirement for new solutions to unlock low-cost green hydrogen without relying on electrolysers has never been higher.”
Sparc Hydrogen’s production process shares similarities with Climate Impact Corporation’s (CIC) approach.
Speaking to H2 View, CIC’s co-founder David Green explained that many Australian hydrogen projects underestimate energy efficiency needs, with 70-80% of green hydrogen costs stemming from electricity.
Therefore, CIC advocates for off-grid solar power at CIC to avoid grid charges, which can account for 20-25% of delivered electricity costs. Instead of relying on subsidies that sustain inefficiencies, he emphasises cost-reduction strategies to make green hydrogen competitive.
Analysis: Billions pledged, projects paused – what’s next for Australia’s hydrogen industry?
Australia’s hydrogen sector has encountered significant challenges over the past year, highlighted by the South Australian Government’s recent decision to reallocate funding from the Whyalla hydrogen project to support local steelworks.
It came as the fourth project, with federal or state support, to be in the spotlight for apparent failures, opening the Labor government to stark, anti-hydrogen political opposition – just months away from a federal election.
bp’s 105MW Kwinana project, Origin Energy’s Hunter Valley Hydrogen Hub and Stanwell Corporation’s Central Queensland Hydrogen Project (CQ-H2) were all selected for a share of AUD $2bn Hydrogen Headstart Program.
The funding scheme planned to provide the prospective hydrogen producers with a 10-year production credit, aimed at closing the gap between high production costs and sale prices.
But all four projects have faced setbacks, often entangled in political rhetoric. This has only been catalysed with backtracks on green hydrogen targets from the likes of Fortescue.
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