Monash University, in collaboration with Korean company SMU Airrane, is developing a pioneering membrane-based system that could transform the way hydrogen is transported and exported. The project, supported by the Australian Government’s Global Connections Fund Bridging Grants program, aims to overcome one of the key barriers to a clean hydrogen future: safe, efficient, and cost-effective transport.
The semi-pilot system uses custom membranes and catalysts to release hydrogen from liquid organic hydrogen carriers at low temperatures, reducing energy use and costs compared with current high-temperature methods. This breakthrough could enable hydrogen to be exported in standard fuel tankers, leveraging existing oil and gas infrastructure while ensuring clean, scalable supply chains.
“We believe our membrane system is the missing link to supply-chain success—a way to cleanly and efficiently release hydrogen at the point of use, without relying on complex high-temperature processes,” said Matthew Hill,director of the Monash Center for Membrane Innovation.
The pilot system will be tested at Monash University and CSIRO’s new Membrane Pilot Facility, with completion expected in 2026.