The University of Southern Queensland has launched what it describes as Australia’s first industry-focused quantum cryogenics facility, aimed at supporting research and commercial activity in quantum computing, superconductivity and advanced sensing.
The lab will provide access to cryogenic infrastructure capable of operating at temperatures near absolute zero, where liquid helium is essential for cooling superconducting systems and enabling quantum experiments.
Its launch comes as Australia remains fully dependent on imported helium of its only production source in 2023.
The Darwin facility, operated by Linde-owned industrial gas company BOC, ceased output after depletion of the Bayu-Undan gas field, removing around 3% of global supply and shifting the country to an import-driven model.
Supply is now largely sourced from overseas producers, including the US and Qatar, which accounts for roughly one-third of global helium production. Much of that material is exported via the Strait of Hormuz, exposing supply chains to geopolitical risk.
Phil Kornbluth of Kornbluth Helium Consulting previously said Australia’s position would track global availability.
“If there is ample supply in the world market, there will be ample supply for Australia. If there is a shortage in world markets, there would be a shortage in Australia,” he told gasworld.
He added that pricing would likely be higher without domestic production due to transport costs and market conditions.
The BOC-operated helium extraction unit, which was Australia’s only helium plant, ceased operations in December 2023 after the Bayu-Undan gas field it relied upon was depleted. ©ConocoPhillips
At the same time, efforts to re-establish supply are gathering pace.
Exploration programmes across the Amadeus, Officer and Surat basins have reported elevated helium concentrations, with companies assessing pathways to production, including integration with natural gas and hydrogen developments.
“Santos and other companies are exploring for helium-bearing gas in the Amadeus Basin of Australia, which, if successful, could provide crude helium feedgas that could be trucked to Darwin for final purification and liquefaction,” said Kornbluth.
Cryogenic applications are among the most helium-intensive uses of the gas. Individual research laboratories can consume thousands of litres of liquid helium per month, while large-scale facilities such as the Large Hadron Collider require inventories of around one million litres to operate.
In the US, cryogenic uses including research and MRI account for roughly 28% of total helium demand.
With costs rising and supply tightening, many facilities are investing in recovery systems capable of capturing and re-liquefying helium, in some cases achieving recovery rates of up to 99%.
Smaller laboratories are also turning to cryocooler technologies to reduce dependence on bulk liquid helium deliveries.
