The New South Wales government has granted aerospace composite company Quickstep an $803,000 R&D award to develop intelligent composite hydrogen storage solutions.
The grant is part of the state’s Clean Technology Innovation Research and Development Program, which seeks to help domestically developed technologies be tested and used in the market.
Quickstep will use the funding for its 12-month initiative that is aimed at enhancing filament winding process solutions, completing material selections and testing, new tank designs, and establishing practical demonstrations of the intelligent storage solution.
The R&D effort will also seek to integrate composite hydrogen storage solutions with a functioning fuel cell propulsion system.
The effort will be conducted in partnership with Smeaton Grange NSW-based Omni Tanker, Australia’s leading provider of advanced composite tanks for use in industrial chemicals, space and other advanced sectors.
Mark Burgess, chief executive officer of Quickstep, said the program will tap into the skills and expertise of two successful Australian companies that seek to achieve a clean energy market that has very significant growth potential.
“It is great to see government provide investment in technologies vital to achieving net zero targets, leveraging existing capability and building Australia’s advanced manufacturing and industrial base,” Burgess said.
“We are excited to work with Quickstep to bring together Omni Tanker’s technology for ultra-lightweight composite pressure vessels with Quickstep’s leading capability in aerostructures and composites,” according to Daniel Rodgers, Omni’s CEO.
“This funding will result in a collaboration which opens up a range of exciting opportunities and combines our motivated teams to translate technology into commercial outcomes and growth for both companies,” he added.
Quickstep is Australia’s largest independent aerospace and composites company. Together, the two companies represent a team highly capable in the development and industrialisation and hydrogen storage solutions for the aerospace and low emissions sectors, Quickstep said in an ASX announcement.
