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The Northern Territory government is partnering with a commercial drone company to investigate manufacturing hydrogen storage tanks.
The $1.79 million early-stage project with UAV firm Blueflite, alongside Charles Darwin University (CDU) and H3 Dynamics, looks to develop a “lightweight, high-pressure, hydrogen vessel (tank) using advanced fiber placement (AFP) technology” specifically for hydrogen-powered drones.
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The NT government’s Advanced Manufacturing Ecosystem Fund (AMEF) has contributed $275,000 to the project, to be administered by the Advanced Manufacturing Growth Centre (AMGC).
“The Northern Territory is ideally positioned to assist Blueflite and its collaborators to succeed – not only do we have the right geographical conditions, but we also have the right support mechanisms and innovation ecosystem,” said AMGC’s Northern Territory director, Charmaine Phillips.
“Projects like this really lift our manufacturing industry’s eyes beyond the horizon and demonstrate our role in the transition to renewable energy.”
US-based Blueflite is opening a Darwin office as part of the project, which will include the use of a robot at CDU for additive manufacturing. Trials will be conducted for remote site hydrogen generation and filling of the new tanks, with test flights to follow at the Darwin UAV test range.
Blueflite CEO Frank Noppel said the project is expected to deliver $9.6 million in extra revenue within five years, as well as creating 17 new skilled jobs in Darwin.
“UAVs have the potential to shrink distances, increase services in remote areas and decarbonise last-mile transportation,” said.
“In conjunction with CDU, H3 Dynamics, and support from the Northern Territory government, we will establish a composite hydrogen tank manufacturing capability that does not exist in Australia and integrate it into our proven UAV platform.
“The long-term goal for Blueflite and our partners in Darwin is to coalesce a range of skills, knowledge, and capability to position the NT as a leader in sustainable aviation and manufacturing, with ripple effects across various sectors, industries and the Top End economy.”
The partnership comes after an Airservices report released in February indicated that drone use in Australia is expected to rise from 1.5 million flights per year in 2023 to 60 million in 2043, or an average of 20 per cent per year for the next 20 years.
