Image credit: University of Adelaide
A pioneering green hydrogen pilot plant has been officially launched at the University of Adelaide’s Roseworthy campus, a huge step for renewable hydrogen technology in South Australia and likely further afield.
Developed by Sparc Hydrogen, the SHARP (Sparc Hydrogen Advanced Research Pilot) facility is the first globally to demonstrate photocatalytic water splitting (PWS) at this scale. PWS is a revolutionary process that uses only sunlight and water to produce hydrogen, without the need for electricity.
The method is a breakthrough because it offers a simpler, cheaper, and more scalable way to produce hydrogen, a clean fuel with the potential to decarbonise sectors like steel and aviation. Most hydrogen today is made using fossil fuels, so unlocking low-cost, renewable production is key to cutting global emissions. It’s a solution that’s friendly on the planet and the balance sheet.
Nick O’Loughlin, Managing Director of Sparc Technologies, said, “The challenge is to decarbonise hydrogen production. Green hydrogen aims to use water as a feedstock instead of fossil fuels.”
“The issue with the current technology for producing green hydrogen, which is called electrolysis is that it uses vast amounts of power, which drives up the cost of hydrogen and has limited uptake.”
Sparc Hydrogen is a joint venture between Sparc Technologies, Fortescue, and the University of Adelaide. The plant will test the company’s patented PWS reactor and evaluate photocatalyst materials developed globally, including by Shinshu University in Japan.
O’Loughlin said that The SHARP plant represents a first-of-its-kind demonstration and research and development facility globally for photocatalytic water splitting and is a key step towards commercialisation of the technology.
“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.”
The concept behind the SHARP plant originated from work by Professor Greg Metha at the University of Adelaide.
“The key breakthrough was that if you concentrate sunlight onto the photocatalyst, you can increase the efficiency of water splitting,” O’Loughlin explained.
“We’re now pairing that with modular, scalable infrastructure that already exists on the market, things like mirrors to focus the sunlight, and housing the process in our patented reactor technology.”
The joint venture brings together academic, industrial and commercial expertise to take the research from lab to real-world application. O’Loughlin’s background is in investment and finance, rather than science or engineering, so his role is to help direct the project from a management and commercial strategy perspective.
“We have one employee in the joint venture, a project manager who led development of the pilot plant, and each partner brings something different. Sparc Technologies handles commercialisation and project support, Fortescue brings technical expertise and IP management, and the University is where the research team is based.”
The project has been years in the making and aims to help decarbonise existing hydrogen production, as well as support new green industries like clean steelmaking, aviation, and shipping.
“Hydrogen is already used in massive quantities for ammonia, fertilisers, methanol, and plastics,” O’Loughlin said. “If we can produce it using sunlight and water alone, we can help clean up those industries and support others that are harder to electrify.”
The project was delivered with support from engineering firm Incitias and developed through the University of Adelaide’s School of Physics, Chemistry and Earth Sciences.
University of Adelaide Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor Anton Middelberg said, “Sparc Hydrogen demonstrates how the University of Adelaide is working with industry partners to develop new pathways for the translation of world-class research conducted here in South Australia.”
Michael Dolan, Director of R&D at Fortescue, added, “The SHARP pilot demonstrates the power of partnership in pushing the boundaries of green hydrogen innovation.”
“Photocatalytic water splitting has long held promise and this project is a step toward unlocking its commercial potential.”
Sparc Hydrogen will continue testing and refining the technology at Roseworthy, with plans to scale up in the future. The project positions South Australia as a leader of green hydrogen innovation, with potential benefits that could extend well beyond the state.
“The sky’s the limit,” O’Loughlin said. “We believe we’re leading the world in scaling photocatalytic water splitting. If we can prove this works at low cost and at scale, the potential impact is huge.”
