Future Fuels Cooperative Research Centre (CRC)
Background
The University of Adelaide is a key partner in the Future Fuels Cooperative Research Centre (CRC). The Future Fuels CRC reflects a vision of Australia’s gas and pipeline sector, focusing on the critical role that new fuels and the existing gas infrastructure will have to play in a low carbon economy. In that regard, the Future Fuels CRC aims to enable the Australian gas and pipeline industry to provide a competitive, low carbon energy alternative for residential, commercial, industrial and transport sectors to complement and support intermittent renewable electricity generation.
The Future Fuels CRC aims to develop solutions for current infrastructure and equipment to use low carbon fuels today and well into the future. Collaborating with over 60 companies, 6 universities, the energy market operator and 2 regulators, low carbon fuels offer increasing potential to store and deliver reliable, clean secure and affordable energy to Australian consumers. The Future Fuels CRC will be supported by $26m cash from the Commonwealth Government under the CRC program and about $65m cash and in-kind funding from industry and universities over its 7-year life.
From the University of Adelaide, an interdisciplinary team of researchers from Centre for Global Food and Resources (CGFAR), South Australian Centre for Economic Studies (SACES), Centre for Energy Technology (CET), Institute for Minerals and Energy Resources (IMER) and Faculty of Engineering, Computer and Mathematical Sciences (ECMS) will play a critical role in research into the production and distribution of future renewable fuels, such as hydrogen, biogas, methanol and ammonia. The interdisciplinary research will lead to more efficient and cheaper ways to produce renewable fuels such as hydrogen, while also identifying viable options for maximising the re-use of existing infrastructure assets, including domestic, commercial and industrial gas pipelines.
Project Objectives
The Future Fuels CRC aims to:
- Understand technical, commercial, and market barriers to, and opportunities for, the use of future fuels
- Study the social and policy context, including public acceptance and safety, for technology and infrastructure associated with future fuels
- Design new cost-effective integrity systems to enhance operations of the infrastructure carrying both existing and future fuels
Project Outputs
A collaboration of researchers from Centre for Global Food and Resources (CGFAR) and South Australian Centre for Economic Studies (SACES) have released a report that shows the worldwide focus and drive towards a hydrogen future. The report aims to understand how nations, regions and industries are thinking about the opportunities and potential for hydrogen.
The Future Fuels CRC has their own website with further details on the project and associated research programs
Project Partners
- Australian Pipelines and Gas Association
- Energy Networks Australia
- Gas Appliance Manufacturers Association of Australia (GAMAA)
- The University of Adelaide
- Deakin University
- The University of Melbourne
- The University of Queensland
- RMIT University
- The University of Wollongong
- Government of South Australia
- Energy Safe Victoria
- Jemena
- Australian Gas Infrastructure Group
Contact
GFAR researchers involved in this project: