Sparc Technologies Limited’s Hydrogen prototype, which is designed for photocatalytic water splitting (PWS), is currently undergoing rigorous testing at the CSIRO Energy Centre in Newcastle, the graphene production company said.
The announcement comes after the prototype PWS reactor unit was successfully mounted onto the solar tower and seamlessly connected to essential resources, including water, power, and communications infrastructure.
The formal testing program was officially initiated on 13 September following calibration work with the heliostat field and initial testing.
The ASX-listed company’s primary objectives for this prototype testing, as outlined in their previous announcement on 3 July 2023, include elevating the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of Sparc Hydrogen’s PWS reactor from four to five, bringing it one step closer to becoming a commercially deployable product.
The ongoing testing is intended to provide invaluable data and insights that will contribute to the design of pilot plant reactors, a crucial milestone in the pathway to large-scale production.
Sparc Hydrogen said it seeks to benchmark its laboratory results obtained under simulated solar conditions against real-world performance metrics, offering a comprehensive evaluation of its technology’s viability.
Additionally, Sparc said the initiative has received support from the CSIRO Kick-Start Program, which has allocated $28,688 in funding to Sparc Hydrogen for prototype testing.
The CSIRO Kick-Start Program is designed to assist innovative Australian start-ups and small businesses in leveraging CSIRO’s research expertise and resources to foster growth and development.
Sparc Hydrogen expressed its deep gratitude for the opportunity to collaborate with CSIRO on this groundbreaking demonstration of PWS technology.
The company said the initiative marks a significant stride forward in the journey toward sustainable hydrogen production and reinforces Sparc Technologies’ commitment to driving innovation in renewable energy.
The company plans to keep the market informed with further updates upon the completion of the testing program.
