Converting Sunlight Innovation Challenge

Summary

Need

The Mission Innovation Converting Sunlight Innovation Challenge. aims to help researchers and technology developers around the world to develop and deploy solar fuel technologies.

A connected network of leading Australian solar fuel researchers and industry professionals will make strategic international partnerships through Mission Innovation’s multilateral research program focused on international cost-sharing of solar fuel technologies.

The project will also develop a method to compare technologies that have different timelines, costs and technology readiness levels; and establish an international expert panel to justify which technologies are worth investing in.

Action

With the support of ARENA, the University of Adelaide is coordinating Australia’s participation in this Mission Innovation Challenge, which focuses on developing emerging classes of technologies (i.e. solar thermal, photocatalysis and high temperature electrolysis routes) that support the conversion of sunlight to fuel.

Unique de-risking and fast-tracking mechanisms will be established based on shared international facilities, expertise and capabilities such as cost-sharing. Alongside the coordination of Australia’s participation in the Mission Innovation Challenge, the University of Adelaide will also promote Australia products and expertise in this market in the establishment of international summits.

Outcome

The key aims of the program are to:

• Establish Australian leadership in Mission Innovation Challenge 5, with the objective of achieving international cost-sharing through coordinated programs (research and implementation) to develop solar fuels technology
• Establish mechanisms to de-risk solar fuels technology by leveraging international facilities, expertise and capabilities
• Establish consistent framework for techno-economic analysis of solar fuels technology
• Foster export of hydrogen from Australia to Japan through bi-lateral trade and international partnerships. Boost collaboration and knowledge sharing through co-fund travels for Australian and international researchers
• Disseminate knowledge and access to international information on solar fuels.

Additional impact

The program has so far seen Australian researchers participate in the International Energy Program MI Challenge.

The program established two international forums in Australia, the Hydrogen Production Technologies (HyPT) forum and the High Temperature Minerals Processing (HiTeMP) forum, which addresses the role of renewable hydrogen in the decarbonisation of processes such as iron and steel manufacture, while also supporting solar fuels programs within existing forums.

Both of the forums brought together all key stakeholder groups from Australia and Internationally, to identify the key drivers, opportunities and barriers for the emerging technologies in solar fuels production for different sectors (including heat/power, manufacturing and transportation) and clean energy.