Rux Energy and the National Composites Centre (NCC), a leading UK research institute, successfully completed a Proof-of-Concept test on a 30-litre carbon fibre composite tank filled with Rux Energy’s proprietary nano porous materials. The test was conducted at a certified high hazard facility in Bristol UK and is a result of ongoing collaboration between and Rux Energy.
The testing involved the integration of proprietary MOF materials into a cryogenically cooled composite tank system, manufactured by the NCC for this purpose. The system was evaluated for hydrogen uptake, safety performance, and pressure integrity under real-world operating conditions. It demonstrated the performance, safety, and thermokinetic behaviour of a MOF-integrated hydrogen storage system in a controlled, operationally relevant environment.
Rux Energy’s Process Engineer Vishva Patel and Founder and CEO Dr Jehan Kanga with the NCC Engineering team at the field testing site in Bristol, UK
The system was repeatedly charged and discharged with hydrogen, with real-time data collected to evaluate hydrogen uptake, desorption, pressure and temperature changes and the correlation of these behaviours with computational modelling. The results confirmed predictions of systemwide uptake from precision lab-scale hydrogen sorption studies and computational -physics modelling. Learnings from the trial will inform the design and development of commercial scale hydrogen storage systems
Following on from the successful trial, a Memorandum of Understanding for further collaboration with Rux Energy, to develop hydrogen storage solutions using lightweight carbon fibre composite tanks. The research will also include collaboration with the Australian Composite Manufacturing Cooperative Research Centre (ACM CRC) and the University of New South Wales (UNSW) School of Mechanical Engineering.
Marcus Walls-Bruck – the Head of Hydrogen for the National Composites Centre said:
“The National Composites Centre is proud to be working with Rux Energy to develop novel hydrogen technologies aimed at reducing the Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE). This collaboration exemplifies the strength of the Australia–UK partnership, which has enabled significant progress with a clear exploitation route.”
Dr Jehan Kanga – Founder and CEO of Rux Energy said “Rux Energy is proud to collaborate with the National Composites Centre. Our technology to develop technology leadership for hydrogen storage and distribution to enable hydrogen to become cost-competitive with fossil fuels.”
The research will focus on developing lightweight advanced materials for high pressure, low temperature storage solutions using carbon fibre composites to enable hydrogen storage using Rux Energy’s advanced nano porous materials. These solutions will reduce the cost of dispatchable hydrogen for deployment in the maritime, heavy transport, rail and aviation sectors, accelerating the pathway to net zero.
Rux Energy and the NCC have already developed a successful partnership through the Hydrogen for Zero Emissions Maritime (HyZEM) project, a consortium involving Australian and UK companies and research institutes, with co-funding from Innovate UK and the Australian Department of Climate Change Energy Environment and Water under the strategic bilateral UK-Australia Renewable Hydrogen Innovation Partnership Programme. HyZEM, focussing on end-to-end innovations in hydrogen storage for the maritime sector.
