Northern Territory to trial off-grid system making hydrogen from 'water from air'

Aqua Aerem water capture (Source: Aqua Aerem)

In many arid areas, such as in the Northern Territory (NT) of Australia, there can be lots of sunshine but a scarcity of water. So at Tennant Creek, NT, there is to be a trial to test the making of hydrogen from water coming from the atmosphere. 

The patented Aqua Aerem system will extract water (H2O) from the atmosphere. Then 'green hydrogen' is made by using solar-powered electrolysis to split this water into hydrogen and oxygen. 

Green hydrogen can be made onsite anywhere in the world using small or larger-scale electrolysers but needs a good supply of water. Green hydrogen made with solar energy can be stored and used when needed including at night and on cloudy days.

After the 12-week trial, it is intended that the hydrogen be used to power the Tennant Creek Power Station which is currently powered by gas with diesel back up (both of which have to be trucked in for 200 kilometres). All going well, this town, in a low rainfall area, will have its own source of power. This off-grid system of local power could be very useful in many isolated desert communities and industries, such as mining, and could also provide power for hydrogen vehicles.

Further reading: 

- Northern Territory to trial hydrogen made with 'water from air'. RenewEconomy, February 24, 2021. 

- Aqua Aerem: water from air technology

U.S., UK and EU to end public finance for fossil fuels

Coal-fired power plant (Source: change.org)

In late January, President Biden put out an executive order which directs federal agencies to eliminate fossil fuel subsidies, including coal, and to spur "innovation, commercialisation, and deployment of clean energy technologies and infrastructure" (CleanTechnica). Biden has signalled that part of his administration's focus will be cutting off international public finance for new fossil fuel projects (Coal Wire).

This announcement from the United States (U.S.) comes on the heels of similar commitments from the United Kingdom (UK) and the European Union (EU). For example, it is estimated that the U.S. directs fossil fuel subsidies of around $20 billion per year of which 20% goes to coal and 80% to natural gas and crude oil. The EU fossil fuel subsidies are estimated to be around 55 billion euros annually (CleanTechnica).

If the US, UK and EU join forces to end the tens of billions of dollars per year in public finance for fossil fuels internationally they can work together to make this a reality by the UN Climate Summit in Glasgow this November (Oil Change International). This is huge!

References: 

- CleanTechnica: Biden orders end to fossil fuel subsidies, promotes equity for underserved communities, January 28, 2021 

- Coal Wire Editorial, 354, January 29, 2021 

- Oil Change International: http://priceofoil.org/2021/01/27/biden-order-international-finance/

- Biden's climate agenda: is this the beginning of the end for fossil fuels? BBC News, January 31, 2021.