Here is another article which has been published by a Dutch...

Here is another article which has been published by a Dutch based hydrogen knowledge sharing forum - link below plus full transcript posted

https://hydrogen-central.com/sparc-hydrogen-successfully-tests-scalable-reactor-design-at-csiro-energy-centre/

Of particular note are the 2 sections I have highlghted;

1) after round 2 of the CIRO testing H production was close to the laboratory results
2) Pilot plant will be a "first of its kind facility" - an end-to-end green hydrogen production system

SparcHydrogen Successfully Tests Scalable Reactor Design at CSIRO Energy Centre

April 9,2024

4 min read

Sparc Hydrogen SuccessfullyTests Scalable Reactor Design at CSIRO Energy Centre.
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Sparc Technologies Limited (ASX:SPN) (Sparc, Sparc Technologies or the Company) is pleased to advise that SparcHydrogen, a joint venture between the University of Adelaide, Fortescue andSparc Technologies, has successfully tested its second generation prototypephotocatalytic water splitting (PWS) reactor at the CSIRO Energy Centre inNewcastle, New South Wales (see Figure 1). The completion of the second roundof prototype testing was delivered on time and on budget by the Sparc Hydrogenteam.
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The design of the secondgeneration prototype has built on learnings from the first round of testingcompleted in Q4 2023 (ASX Announcement 24 November 2023). Performanceof the reactor over numerous trial runs and a range of concentrated solar andthermal operating conditions is significantly improved compared to the firstgeneration prototype, with better temperature and pressure control, gasproduction and measurement.
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Hydrogen gas production wasclose to that which was estimated based on laboratory results using the same photocatalystmaterial, providing validation for laboratory testing under concentrated solarsimulation going forward.Importantly, the second generation prototype has been designed to beeasily scalable in order to slot into a linear Fresnel concentrated solar fieldfor pilot scale testing, which is subject to Sparc Hydrogen board approval ofStage 2 of the joint venture.
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Mr. Nick O’Loughlin, Sparc Technologies ManagingDirector, commented:
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“The performance and designimprovements that have been demonstrated through the second generation reactorvalidate the ongoing laboratory work along with the approach that SparcHydrogen has taken to on-sun scale-up as we head towards a pilot plant investmentdecision.
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This prototype testing haspersuasively demonstrated concentrated photocatalytic water splitting (PWS) inreal- world conditions, which in turn reinforces the significant potential ofPWS as an alternative to electrolysis for the production of low-cost greenhydrogen. We continue to be encouraged by the market demand for alternativegreen hydrogen production technologies, given the challenges being faced byelectrolysis projects globally.”
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Sparc believes that the successof this round of prototyping, which has been supported through funding fromAustralia’s Economic Accelerator (AEA) grant program (ASX Announcement 19 October 2023) and the CSIRO Kick-StartProgram, has fully satisfied the objectives set out at the beginning of the prototype testing (ASX Announcement 3 July 2023). Sparc is also pleased with the recent progress made by Sparc Hydrogen in developing relationships with leading photocatalyst suppliers with the aim of sharing materials for testing in Sparc Hydrogen’s PWS reactor. Sparc considers both reactor development and formalising relationships with photocatalyst developers to be important factors behind a decision to move forward with Stage 2 of the joint venture..

In parallel with the recenton-sun prototype testing, Sparc Hydrogen has continued to progress developmentworkstreams for the pilot plant ahead of a decision to move to Stage 2 of thejoint venture. A pre-FEED study completed by an external consultant during Q42023 demonstrated the ability for Sparc Hydrogen to build and fund a pilotplant incorporating modular, scalable linear Fresnel concentrated solar mirrors. If built, this would be a first-of-its-kind facilitydemonstrating the combination of photocatalytic water splitting withconcentrated solar in an end-to-end green hydrogen production system. Recent work on the pilot plant has been focusedon detailed reactor design incorporating the specific attributes of the chosenmirror field, site selection, budgeting and approvals. Sparc Hydrogen continuesto apply for grant funding which would support the costs of R&D and pilotplant construction, albeit this is not a pre-requisite in order to fund theplanned activities of the joint venture during Stage 2.