Green hydrogen innovation wins Climate Innovation Challenge

South East Water and RMIT University have won the 2024 Water Minister’s Climate Innovation Challenge for their method for producing green hydrogen from solar energy and recycled water.

The project, ‘Co-production of green hydrogen and oxidant from direct solar radiation’, earned $113,000 in Victorian Government funding after taking the top honours. The world-first technology uses a floating modular platform to convert solar radiation and recycled water into green hydrogen and valuable oxidants like ozone and hydrogen peroxide.

The project harnesses recycled water and solar power to reduce carbon emissions, tackle energy challenges and improve water quality.

South East Water Managing Director Lara Olsen said the accolade reflects the utility’s commitment to innovation and sustainability.

“We’re proud to see our innovation recognised on such a prestigious platform and we’re grateful to RMIT University for their work in delivering this submission,” she said. “This achievement highlights the enormous potential for our industry to lead the way in addressing climate challenges.

“By transforming recycled water into clean energy and enhancing water treatment processes, this project demonstrates a real-world solution to achieving net-zero goals.”

Project Lead Dr Li Gao, who holds joint appointments at RMIT University and South East Water, said the project demonstrates the true value of collaboration between universities and industry.

“The photocatalytic system is a scientific breakthrough, but it is only by working with industry partners such as South East Water that we are able to convert excellent research discoveries like this into real industry and community benefits,” he said. “We’re proud to support the water industry’s leadership in this space and partnering to roll this solution out more widely in future.”

Gao is Strategic Research Manager at South East Water and ARC Industry Fellow at RMIT in the School of Science. South East Water and RMIT University plan to develop the technology for future full-scale rollout across Victorian water utilities.

The latest $113,000 in funding — along with $120,000 from South East Water and $130,000 from RMIT University — will fund development of a small-scale prototype to bring the technology to life.

The floating hydrogen production system is designed to be scalable and adaptable, making it suitable for reservoirs, lagoons and other water bodies.

Now in its second year, the Water Minister’s Climate Innovation Challenge is a collaboration between the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action, the Intelligent Water Networks and the Minister for Water to promote innovation in the water sector.

Image: The modular system set up in the lab.