Rux Energy has successfully completed a two-year collaborative project between Australia and the UK to develop the HyZEM: Hydrogen storage & power system for zero emissions maritime vessels, funded under the Australia -UK Renewable Hydrogen Innovative Partnership Programme (RHIPP).
The UK-Australia-Renewable Hydrogen Innovation Partnerships Programme supported the development of new technologies to decarbonise of hard-to-abate industries through joint UK and Australian funding for green hydrogen projects. Innovate UK and Australia’s Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) worked in partnership to jointly fund projects that developed commercial products, processes or technical services that would benefit both countries. The programme was part of a wider cleantech partnership signed by the UK and Australian governments in 2021.
Rux Energy was successful because of the potential of its technology to drive advancements in renewable energy with its hydrogen storage solution.
Rux Energy was the lead partner from Australia with the University of New South Wales (UNSW) a project partner.
Steamology was the lead partner from the UK where other companies in the consortium included Duodrive, Chartwell Marine, and UK Catapults: The National Composites Centre and The Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult.
The objective of the project was to advance innovative technologies for the deployment of hydrogen as a zero-emission fuel on high powered harbour vessels and short course working boats.
Significant Project Technology Outcomes
The Project achieved significant technology breakthroughs at each stage of the technology stack for zero emission technologies for working boiats and short course harbour vessels.
Among the Australian partners:
– Rux Energy’s MOFs, integrated with cryo-compressed tanks to significantly improve hydrogen storage efficiency, cost, and safety, accelerating the technology advancement of integrated Rux MOF-enabled hydrogen storage system technology readiness level (TRL) to TRL 6
– University of NSW Department of Mechanical Engineering collaborated to develop the proof of concept tanks for MOF enabled hydrogen storage
Among the UK partners:
– Steamology, a UK-based business, developed high-torque high-efficiency zero emission hydrogen steam turbines.
– Duo Drive developed a breakthrough drive train for the working boats
– Chartwell Marine designed the working boat to integrate the new technologies
– The National Composites Centre (NCC) provided its unique expertise and capacity in carbon fibre composites
– The Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult (OREC) completed market scoping studies
– Freeport East UK, a leading hydrogen and maritime decarbonisation innovation hub, facilitated introductions to UK-based potential supply chain partners for Rux.
The collaboration with Steamology and UK partners provided Rux Energy with an opportunity to test its advanced storage systems in a relevant industrial environment, providing a global first mover advantage, translatable to other industries including heavy duty land transport, long-haul trucking, aviation, shipping, rail and physical infrastructure and long duration storage for intraseasonal firming power.
The partners shared technology and insights and participated in knowledge sharing activities, accelerating research commercialisation of Rux Energy’s patented hydrogen storage materials by up to two years.
A highlight was an event hosted by Rux Energy and Austrade at Australia House London, on the sidelines of London International Shipping Week, on 25 September 2025. All project partners had the opportunity to participate in the presentations and panel discussions and to network with leaders from government, academia and industry, including potential investors.
The Project leveraged over $5 million of Rux Energy investment in sovereign State of the Art MOF testing infrastructure, unique in the Southern Hemisphere, as well as unique 9-axis automated fibre placement robotics and complementary carbon composites testing apparatus located at UNSW and the National Composites Centre (NCC) which together, allowed Rux to accelerate technology readiness to commercialisation.
National benefits for Australia
Strategically for Australia, the project has helped to grow Australia’s research capability catalysing a new UNSW-NCC partnership via Rux and fostering international collaboration between UNSW and NCC.
It has enabled Rux Energy to take a leadership role internationally in responding to climate change and strengthen its ties with UK partners in the project, and also within the UK maritime sector.
The national benefits to Australia have also been significant as the outcomes:
– Strengthens resilience in Australia’s economy by providing opportunities for advanced materials manufacturing investment, grow the capabilities of Australian local suppliers in the advanced manufacturing ecosystem, creating local jobs, skills and capabilities in the emerging renewable hydrogen industry in Australia.
– Supports the development of renewable hydrogen supply chains that will advance decarbonisation efforts of one of hardest-to-abate sectors, the maritime sector, domestically and globally, while enhancing safety, reliability, and affordability.
As a result of this successful project, Australia is positioned with solutions to achieve the transition to net zero emissions by 2050, in line with the Paris Agreement
Rux Energy is also emerging as a global category leader in dispatchable hydrogen storage in various hard-to-abate sectors. This project has strengthened Rux Energy’s connections and collaboration with Australian and UK research partners and innovators and it also enhances the commercial demand-pull into the UK as an export market, where Rux Energy has over 85 potential customers and stakeholders in the maritime sector.
The project enhanced international knowledge sharing and capacity building activities, leveraging Freeport East’s significant profile in the UK, platforming the results of the project and amplifying Rux Energy’s visibility on Tier-1 global maritime stages, such as at London International Shipping Week 2025.
Bilateral Outcomes for Hydrogen End-Users, accelerating switching for Hardest-to-Abate Industries
The technology breakthroughs that were achieved provide bilateral benefits to both Australia and the UK and solves key blockers to switching for work boat vessel operators, including:
– Energy density, vessel range, refuelling speeds
– Space constraints, operational uptime
– Ability to retrofit legacy assets both mechanical and electric, with quiet operation
– On-demand torque and efficient auxiliary power performance of hydrogen powered drive trains
– Validated lower total cost of ownership
– Increased safety and fewer environmental hazards compared with liquid hydrogen, e-ammonia and e-methanol
The outcomes have empowered vessel owners/operators with technical information to support the switch from diesel, even in the absence of a subsidy. A number of operators such as Serco, the largest workboat operator in the UK are ready to trial the new systems.
Overall this was a very successful demonstration of bi-lateral collaboration between Australia and the UK for mutual benefit to both nations. It fostered accelerated commercialisation of nascent technologies and has established strong relationships for future collaboration.
