Seven teams have been selected as finalists for OZ Minerals’ Hydrogen Hypothesis challenge which, through their prospective projects, demonstrate the potential of hydrogen as a safe and effective energy source in the mining sector.
The challenge is part of OZ Minerals’ Think & Act Differently (TAD) accelerator program, an initiative launched in March this year.
Of the 158 innovators from 35 countries that applied for the challenge, the seven shortlisted include Perth’s AVID Group, led by Aaron Teo, which pitched its idea of hydrogen-powered lighting towers, as well as Carbon 280, with its Hydrilyte storage system concept.
Technology start-up Carnot was also successful with its pitch of an ultra-efficient ceramic engine, as were OZ Minerals’ own Steve Day with his concept of a hydrogen highway.
Others recognised include Fly H2 Aerospace, Supercritical, and Yakum Consulting, which alongside Queens University, pitched the idea of producing clean metal products from concentrate using green hydrogen.
OZ Minerals’ transformation technologist Brett Triffett said with hydrogen showing its potential in other industries, the mining sector has an opportunity to capitalise on such advances.
“The mining sector has the opportunity to leverage the progress made in other sectors and explore the use of hydrogen technology in its operations,” Triffett said.
“The finalist teams were chosen because they have proposed ideas that have the potential to demonstrate the value hydrogen technologies and applications could create for our industry.”
“These teams also demonstrated their willingness to work and learn together with each other and OZ Minerals. The OZ Minerals TAD incubator acceleration program is designed to create as much mutual value as we possibly can, rather than just transacting an experiment for funding.”
The seven successful teams will be provided with funding to conduct their experiments.