Latest news
12th January 2021
HydGene Renewables awarded Australian Government BRII funding to perform a feasibility project examining the production of bio-hydrogen on farms from grain and straw waste
HydGene Renewables is very pleased to announce that it has been awarded a federal government grant to investigate the challenges and to propose a solution for the recycling of farming biomass to generate hydrogen. The grant was awarded through the Australian Government Business Research Innovation Initiative (BRII) and announced earlier today.
At HydGene Renewables, we engineer bacterial microbes using Synthetic Biology techniques to produce renewable hydrogen gas from carbohydrate feedstocks including simple sugars. The scope of this BRII funded feasibility project is to expand further on the repertoire of feedstocks that our engineered cells can utilise for on-site biological hydrogen production. We will analyse the capability and economic feasibility of other grain-based and straw-waste feedstock sources, such as wheat, barley and sorghum, for biological hydrogen production ‘on the farm’. The on-site generation of hydrogen can be used for a broad range of farming related needs including fertiliser production as well as for the generation of off-grid electricity, and as a fuel for heat and transport applications. This feasibility project will therefore identify new market opportunities for the on-site and on-demand production of renewable hydrogen; and help to address current challenges associated with hydrogen storage and transport.
The Business Research Innovation Initiative (BRII) program is an initiative of the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science to drive innovation within SMEs and the government to provide solutions to 5 challenges the government currently faces in policy and service delivery areas. The BRII challenge to be investigated by HydGene Renewables was proposed by Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) to seek solutions for turning farm crops into a renewable hydrogen source. HydGene Renewables are supported by Bioplatforms Australia and will also team up with researchers from Macquarie University on the project. For more about the BRII program and the announcement, please visit https://www.minister.industry.gov.au/ministers/karenandrews/media-releases/grants-helping-develop-clever-business-ideas
Contact HydGene Renewables at contactus@hydgene.com.