Researchers from the University of Canterbury will lead attempts to promote green hydrogen energy in Aotearoa New Zealand after the government awarded $4 million to two projects.
The initiatives are financed by the Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment’s Catalyst: Strategic New Zealand-Germany Green Hydrogen Research Partnership strategic financing scheme in collaboration with German researchers.
Today, three successful research projects were revealed, two of which were directed by University of Canterbury (UC) professors: Dr. Rebecca Peer, Dr. Jannik Haas, and Professor Aaron Marshall of Chemical and Process Engineering.
Green hydrogen is produced from renewable energy sources and is one of the few technologies capable of providing long-term energy storage, green fertilisers, and green steel, making it a hot topic as New Zealand attempts to achieve a carbon-neutral economy by 2050.
Professor of Research and Vice-President for Research at the University of California, Ian Wright, describes the MBIE money as a tremendous endorsement. “We are really happy that researchers from the University of Canterbury are taking the lead in this vital area. As concerns about climate change increase on a global scale, there is a growing interest in green hydrogen, and these efforts could lead to exciting and much-needed advances.”
The project will receive $2 million in financing over three years from MBIE and €300,000 (NZ$478,700) from the German Ministry of Education and Research in conjunction with the German Aerospace Center (DLR), one of Europe’s top energy modelling groups.
