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Sparc Technologies (ASX:SPN) accelerates pilot plant on positive study outcome

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ASX:SPN      MCAP $20.03M
12 October 2022 15:09 (AEST)

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Sparc Technologies (SPN) has announced its joint venture (JV) company Sparc Hydrogen has completed a preliminary techno-economic analysis (TEA).

Sparc Hydrogen is a JV between Sparc, Fortescue Future Industries (FFI) and the University of Adelaide. It’s looking to commercialise a photocatalytic water splitting technology in order to produce low-cost green hydrogen.

The TEA study began at the start of this year to demonstrate the relationship between
solar to hydrogen efficiencies for Sparc Hydrogen’s solar reactor and the levelised cost of hydrogen produced.

The University of Adelaide, who led the study, has been undertaking lab-scale research which successfully demonstrated advances in solar reactor design and performance under a variety of simulated solar conditions.

The study reportedly confirmed the commercial potential for Sparc’s green hydrogen process, which is considered a significant milestone.

As a result of the positive study outcomes, Sparc, FFI and the University of Adelaide have agreed to accelerate scoping activities for a pilot plant ahead of the original project schedule.

“The decision to accelerate a pilot plant is evidence of the JV partner’s enthusiasm and is an important step on the path to commercialisation,” Sparc Executive Chair Stephen Hunt said.

FFI’s CEO Mark Hutchinson also welcomed the positive news.

“Our goal is to develop green hydrogen and renewable energy innovations and technology, with a specific focus on decarbonising hard-to-abate industries that can be commercialised fast,” Mr Hutchinson said.

Over the next 12 months, the JV partners will research and development work on the photocatalytic water splitting technology, as well as further modelling to refine the potential range of outcomes along with the other key assumptions in the TEA study.

SPN shares were up 6.51 per cent to trade at 90 cents at 3:08 pm AEDT.

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