Perth-based startup Carbon280 has secured $16.6 million to develop a pilot plant that aims to provide a safer, cheaper, and more scalable method for storing and transporting hydrogen.
The funding includes an $11.1 million seed round led by Woodside Energy, with support from UK-based Hive Energy and a Singaporean family office. The remaining amount comes from federal R&D rebates.
The pilot plant, located in Kwinana, Western Australia, includes laboratory facilities and a 100kW TRL6 prototype to test the technology at an industrial scale.
According to the company, Australia’s hydrogen sector has faced challenges due to rising costs and delayed megaprojects.
Carbon280’s founder and CEO, Mark Rheinlander, said the startup’s Hydrilyte technology could help solve one of the industry’s most significant problems: storing and transporting hydrogen safely and affordably.
Hydrilyte is a liquid mixture that lets hydrogen be stored at normal temperature and pressure, instead of using very cold or high-pressure methods.
The company says this allows hydrogen to be transported using existing fuel systems like pipelines, tankers, and ships.
“Hydrilyte solves one of the biggest challenges for the hydrogen industry – at scale,” Rheinlander said.
Instead of transporting a highly flammable gas, you’re storing a stable, low-cost liquid under ambient conditions. That simplicity reduces cost, lowers risk and accelerates rollout globally.
Carbon280 says its technology can also separate hydrogen from helium, which is usually hard in natural hydrogen projects where the gases are found together.
The company adds that Hydrilyte captures and stores hydrogen in one step, making it possible to profit from both gases.
“Natural hydrogen in combination with Hydrilyte will be game-changing for the use of hydrogen across all industries, including energy, by slashing costs and simplifying handling,” Rheinlander said.
Carbon280 says that if the Kwinana pilot plant works well, it will prove the technology is cost-effective for hydrogen users and make future projects, like green steel, aviation fuels, and methanol production, more viable.
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