Curtin University researchers have developed a cheaper and safer way to bottle and store Australian sunshine as hydrogen fuel.

Researchers from Curtin University’s School of Molecular and Life Sciences have created a lower-cost and less toxic method of developing hydrogen fuel from solar energy, paving the way for the growth of a hydrogen industry in Australia.

Hydrogen fuel can be created using solar power to generate electricity to 'crack' water into hydrogen and oxygen. Credit:Jon Reid

Hydrogen is currently being touted by the CSIRO and the government as Australia’s next major energy export industry, valued at up to $1.6 billion by 2025, and as a potential replacement for natural gas and petrol.

Current methods for creating hydrogen from solar power involve running an electric current generated by solar panels through water and requires either highly toxic cadmium or very expensive platinum as a catalyst to kick off the process.