Australia’s Clean Energy Finance Corporation has given a hydrogen fuel cell developer $7 million in support of an innovative form of technology using silicon-based bipolar plates.
Sydney-based developer and manufacturer of hydrogen fuel cells and electrolysis systems Siltrax has received 10.4 million Australian dollars ($7 million) from the Clean energy finance company (CEFC).
The financial commitment will help develop an innovative form of hydrogen fuel cell technology that creates lighter, more efficient fuel cells.
Siltrax’s technology uses bipolar plates made of silicon, instead of the more commonly used graphite or metal materials, to produce thinner, more efficient plates.
By using silicon, Siltrax can leverage the existing solar cell supply chain for both raw materials and production equipment.
The CEFC investment will be managed by climate technology venture capital manager Virescent Ventures to help Siltrax build out its Australian research and development team to focus on fuel cell systems engineering and local commercialization opportunities.
Virescent Ventures Managing Partner Ben Gust said one of the benefits of using silicon production techniques optimized in the solar industry is the potential to reduce costs.
“Other benefits of using silicon instead of metal include corrosion resistance and reduced volume, which allows for better power density,” Gust said.
Siltrax Founder and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Zhengrong Shi said prices in the solar sector have fallen in recent years from between AUD5.9 and AUD7.4 to the current AUD0.45/W.
“Siltrax builds on the foundations of PV and semiconductor manufacturing and is able to fully leverage existing supply chains, technologies and talent pool.”
The Siltrax technology has the potential to be used in the long-distance heavy freight transport sector, where a CEFC-commissioned Australian hydrogen market study is likely to rely on green hydrogen to reduce emissions. hydrogen fuel cell trucks They are expected to be cheaper than internal combustion engine vehicles in the long term as technology costs decrease and infrastructure use improves.
Siltrax’s first target market is stationary power generation, where fuel cells generate electricity through a mechanism that does not require combustion.
CEFC Chief Asset Management Officer Sara Leong said advancing hydrogen fuel cell technology is a critical enabler that will help develop the hydrogen value chain and accelerate the development of Australia’s hydrogen industry.
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