Carbon280 announced the launch of Hydrilyte® Technology Pilot Plant in Kwinana, Western Australia. The company has raised a funding of over $16 million to accelerate its innovative liquid hydrogen storage solution, Hydrilyte®.
The pilot and laboratory facilities were funded through a $10.6 million seed investment led by Woodside Energy. It is supported by UK-based renewable energy company Hive Energy and a Singaporean family office, alongside a forecast $5.5 million in R&D rebates from the Australian Government.
The hydrogen ambitions of Australia face growing headwinds, with rising costs, technical complexity, and a number of high-profile projects stalled or cancelled. The multi-patented Hydrilyte® technology of Carbon280 addresses a major bottle neck in the hydrogen supply chain. Carbon280 launches Hydrilyte pilot plant that allows hydrogen to be stored safely at ambient temperature and pressure. The Hydrilyte® technology makes the storage and transport of hydrogen safer, more efficient and more economically viable.
Hydrilyte® Pilot Plant and Validation of Industrial-Scale Performance
Mark Rheinlander, Founder & CEO of Carbon280 said, “Rather than transporting a highly flammable gas you are storing and transporting a safe, low-cost liquid that stores hydrogen under ambient conditions. Low-cost and ease of handling will simplify and speed the implementation of hydrogen projects globally, enabling hydrogen use in applications and geographies with less sophisticated infrastructure.”
The Hydrilyte® Technology Pilot Plant, a 100kW TRL6 prototype that proves the Hydrilyte® technology to be at an industrially relevant scale. Carbon280 launches Hydrilyte pilot plant that delivers critical performance data for partners and investors. A successful outcome validates the technology, reducing the cost for existing hydrogen users, improving the economics and speed the implementation of future projects. This also includes production of green iron, synthetic aviation fuels and methanol.
Hydrilyte has the ability to separate hydrogen from helium, and store the hydrogen ready for transport. This gives it the potential to advance natural hydrogen projects in Australia and globally. Natural hydrogen occurs mixed with other gases that need to be separated. Helium is one of these gases and very hard to separate from hydrogen because of their similar molecular size. Hydrilyte® helps in separation and storage, ready for transport, in a single step. This facilitates the monetisation of both hydrogen and helium for natural hydrogen developers.
“Natural hydrogen in combination with Hydrilyte® will be game changing for the use of hydrogen across all industries, including energy, by slashing costs and simplifying handling,” continued Mark Rheinlander.
Hydrilyte® as a Safe, Pumpable Hydrogen Storage Solution
As a safe, pumpable liquid, the hydrogen-containing Hydrilyte® can be stored and transported using existing liquid fuels infrastructure, including pipelines, tankers, and ships. The technology has the potential to deliver a hydrogen transportation method that costs less, is safe, energy efficient and ultra-scalable.
The launch of the Hydrilite® pilot plant marks a significant step towards de-risking hydrogen investments in Australia and accelerating the sector’s growth. The company is committed to delivering a secure, sustainable, and economically viable hydrogen future.
