An Indian-Australian scientist develops new tech to produce green hydrogenAn Indian-Australian scientist develops new tech to produce green hydrogen

As the world moves towards a more sustainable energy future, hydrogen technology and the development of green hydrogen will be critical. Dr. Gurpreet Kaur and her team are at the forefront of new technology for producing green hydrogen, and their work is helping to make the world a greener and more sustainable place.

The development of hydrogen technology is becoming increasingly important, and one of the most promising hydrogen-producing technologies currently being developed is the Solid Oxide Electrolysis (SOE) technology developed by Australia’s Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO).

Dr. Gurpreet Kaur, an Indian Australian living in Adelaide and a strong advocate for clean energy, is leading the team.

Dr. Kaur claims that SOE technology efficiently produces hydrogen while requiring low operating and capital expenditures because it uses non-noble materials and waste or low-cost heat as an energy input. In addition, the technology can use captured CO2 and H2O to generate syngas, a carbon-neutral fuel that other technologies cannot produce.

Dr. Gurpreet Kaur moved to Australia from India and admits that juggling motherhood and a career has been difficult. She is grateful, however, for the ongoing support she has received from both her family and the CSIRO.

“My earlier studies at IIT Delhi and my hard work under the supervision of Prof. Suddhasatwa Basu made me a strong candidate to grab such opportunities in Australia. Though it has been challenging as a mother of two growing kids, continuous support from both home and CSIRO has been tremendous,” Dr. Kaur told Indian Link.

However, there are still obstacles to scaling up and bringing this technology to market. While the CSIRO’s technology is modular and scalable to a multi-kW scale, the integration of such systems with renewable energy sources is currently being tested with leading industrial partners.

Despite the challenges, Dr. Gurpreet Kaur believes that the impact of this technology on reducing greenhouse gas emissions could be significant. “Electrolysis converts water into hydrogen (and oxygen), which can help to reduce emissions significantly. However, electrolysis requires a large amount of electricity, and electricity production may result in emissions. Our SOE technology requires less amount of electricity for the production of hydrogen,” explains Dr Kaur.

In addition, the technology can use H2O and captured CO2 to create syngas, a carbon-neutral fuel that other technologies cannot produce.

Dr. Kaur also emphasizes the potential for SOE technology to generate hydrogen, syngas, and oxygen, which are feedstocks for a variety of value-added products such as petrol, methanol, and dimethyl ether.

As renewables gain traction in the market, industries are eager to use green hydrogen as a feedstock for a variety of value-added products. Dr. Kaur, on the other hand, claims that adoption and integration with existing technologies are still in their early stages.

“For example, by 2030, the Indian government has set a target of 500 GW installed renewable energy, so penetration of these technologies for green hydrogen will be emerging fast,” she said.

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Content Credit: IndianLink News