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Australia’s hydrogen industry is growing rapidly, but with that growth comes the challenge of safely storing hydrogen at scale. One of the most promising solutions lies deep underground in the nation’s ancient salt formations. Thanks to a newly awarded ARC Early Career Industry Fellowship, , a member of the Institute for Sustainability, Energy and Resources (ISER), is leading a project that may help solve this challenge

Her fellowship, titled “Unlocking Australia’s hydrogen industry through large-scale salt caverns,â€� is one of only two awarded in Earth Sciences across Australia and one of three across the University of ÑÇÖÞ²ÊƱ¹ÙÍø. Such an impressive achievement!Ìý

The project has been granted $455,109 in ARC Category 1 funding, supported by key partners: Woodside Energy, CSIRO, South Australia Department of Energy and Mining, Northern Territory Geological Survey, and Western Michigan University.

The supports emerging researchers to bridge academia and industry, promoting innovation, commercialisation, and two-way knowledge exchange. This program focuses on translating research into real-world outcomes, building industry collaboration skills, and delivering impact for industry partners.ÌýDr. Kernen’s award recognises not only her scientific leadership but also her ability to align research with pressing national and industry needs.

Hydrogen plays a crucial role in Australia’s clean energy transition, but storing it safely and affordably at large scale remains a challenge. Dr. Kernen’s project tackles this by studying Australia’s ancient salt deposits, these are thick layers of rock salt formed from dried-up seas millions of years ago, particularly in South Australia and the Northern Territory. These salt formations can be engineered into salt caverns, which are considered ideal for hydrogen storage because they’re naturally airtight, cost-efficient to develop, and have the ability to self-seal if cracks occur.

To identify the best locations for these caverns, the project uses a mix of real-world rock exposures (called outcrop analogues), physical modelling of how salt behaves under pressure, and geophysical simulations that help map underground structures. The research also looks at crucial factors like the purity of the salt (which affects safety), the risk of hydrogen leakage, and how much gas each site could potentially store, especially in areas where detailed geological data is limited.

By answering these questions, the project aims to give industry partners reliable guidance to safely and quickly scale up hydrogen storage, helping Australia meet its emissions reduction goals.

For ISER, Dr. Kernen’s fellowship exemplifies the institute’s commitment to interdisciplinary, applied research that delivers real-world impact in sustainability, energy, and resources. Behind this major achievement is a personal story of perseverance. Dr. Kernen reflected on the people who helped make this possible, “I am sincerely grateful to the academics and industry partners who encouraged and sponsored me to apply for an ARC Fellowship and maintained their support throughout the process.�

She also acknowledged the often-unseen support systems behind research success. “This would not have been possible without the support staff in Research Development at ÑÇÖÞ²ÊƱ¹ÙÍø University, specifically Annette Paschke. I submitted my grant application less than two weeks after giving birth, and she was very patient with me as I worked through the final application and double-checked the content. I am eternally grateful for her professionalism.â€�

Her words highlight the importance of community, mentorship, and institutional support in enabling impactful research, especially for women in science.

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Learn More
To explore the ARC Early Career Industry Fellowship program, visit the ARC website.

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