Related article: Sparc Hydrogen progresses pilot plant development

The provisional patent application has been submitted by Sparc on the back of more than 12 months of work with the University of Adelaide investigating alternate substrates, coating methods and delivery systems within photocatalytic water-splitting (PWS) reactors.

Initial proof of concept has been achieved with an analogue photocatalyst material demonstrating the potential to improve the current methods for coating and delivery of particulate photocatalysts to achieve higher solar to hydrogen efficiencies and lower operating costs through increased durability and better handling.

The majority of this work has been completed at the University of Adelaide with funding from Sparc Technologies.

Sparc managing director Nick O’Loughlin said, “The lodgement of this provisional patent application is significant not just insofar as the technology’s potential to improve the cost and efficiency of photocatalytic water splitting systems, but also the synergies it demonstrates between Sparc’s coatings and polymers expertise being applied to uplift the value of its investment in Sparc Hydrogen.

“Results in the lab are very encouraging and given the nascent stage of the PWS industry there is strong potential to deliver a highly relevant and complementary platform technology protected by IP which is 100% owned by Sparc Technologies.”

Sparc Hydrogen’s utilisation of PWS technology is set apart from conventional approaches to produce green hydrogen. Crucially, PWS does not rely on renewable energy sources such as solar or wind farms, nor expensive electrolysers, to produce hydrogen from water. This addresses a fundamental issue in the nascent green hydrogen industry—the cost of renewable power.

Related article: New catalyst could advance green hydrogen production

Sparc Hydrogen’s pioneering technology employs a photocatalyst material and sunlight to produce ‘ultra-green’ hydrogen directly from water. Hydrogen produced from PWS can serve as a clean fuel or feedstock to decarbonise hard-to-abate industries.

The post Sparc files patent application for photocatalyst coatings appeared first on Energy Source & Distribution.

Catalysts are substances that speed up chemical reactions by providing a more efficient route for a reaction to occur and making it easier to start and finish. Since catalysts are neither consumed nor altered in the reaction, they can be used repeatedly, and they are essential in a variety of industrial, environmental, and biochemical processes.

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The team, which included researchers from Hokkaido University, the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) and elsewhere, developed the catalyst, called NiOOH-Ni, by combining nickel (Ni) with nickel oxyhydroxide.

Ammonia can cause severe environmental problems, such as excessive algal growth in water bodies, which depletes oxygen and harms aquatic life. At high concentrations, ammonia can harm humans and wildlife. Effective management and conversion of ammonia are thus critical, but its corrosive nature makes it difficult to handle.

The researchers developed NiOOH-Ni using an electrochemical process. Nickel foam, a porous material, was treated with an electrical current while immersed in a chemical solution. This treatment resulted in the formation of nickel oxyhydroxide particles on the foam’s surface.

Despite their irregular and non-crystalline structure, these nickel-oxygen particles significantly enhance ammonia conversion efficiency. The catalyst’s design allows it to operate effectively at lower voltages and higher currents than traditional catalysts.

“NiOOH-Ni works better than Ni foam, and the reaction pathway depends on the amount of electricity (voltage) used,” explains Professor Zhenguo Huang from the University of Technology Sydney, who led the study.

“At lower voltages, NiOOH-Ni produces nitrite, while at higher voltages, it generates nitrate.”

This means the catalyst can be used in different ways depending on what is needed. For example, it can be used to clean wastewater by converting ammonia into less harmful substances. But in another process, it can also be used to produce hydrogen gas, a clean fuel. This flexibility makes NiOOH-Ni valuable for various applications.

“NiOOH-Ni is impressively durable and stable, and it works well even after being used multiple times,” says Associate Professor Andrey Lyalin from Hokkaido University, who was involved in the study.

Related article: Aussie breakthrough to slash green hydrogen costs by 40%

“This makes it a great alternative to traditional, more expensive catalysts like platinum, which aren’t as effective at converting ammonia.”

The catalyst’s long-term reliability makes it suitable for large-scale industrial use, potentially transforming how industries handle wastewater and produce clean energy.

The study has been published in Advanced Energy Materials.

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The appointment of globally renowned clean energy expert Professor Jonathan Love was announced at an industry event to launch the construction of the new Gladstone Hydrogen Central information centre that will be located at the University’s Gladstone Marina campus.

Related article: Queensland Govt approves massive Tarong West Wind Farm

As part of his new role as Stanwell Chair in Hydrogen, Professor Love will provide academic, research and strategic leadership to initiate, develop and steer a team of researchers to deliver knowledge and innovation to support the development of a thriving hydrogen and renewable energy industry, with a specific focus on the Gladstone region.

Stanwell CEO Michael O’Rourke said Queensland’s energy sector is undergoing a transformational change to a clean energy future, and renewable hydrogen has the potential to play a key role in this transformation.

“Renewable hydrogen can help achieve several objectives for Queensland, Australia, and our trading partners including domestic decarbonisation, economic transition, and new clean energy export markets for Australia,” he said.

“Stanwell is committed to driving the development of Queensland’s hydrogen industry and we are delighted to deepen our partnership with CQUniversity by funding the establishment of the Stanwell Professorial Chair of Hydrogen at CQUniversity.

“In his role, Professor Love will focus on applied research that supports advancing the hydrogen industry in Queensland, including our flagship project, the Central Queensland Hydrogen Project (CQ-H2).

Related article: Unis launch Australian Centre for Offshore Wind Energy

Professor Jonathan Love will work with industry partners and clean energy researchers across Queensland and says he is looking forward to building strong industry partnerships and further building CQUniversity’s credentials in hydrogen and renewable energy research and development.

“There are already so many exciting projects happening in the region, and I believe we have a real opportunity to establish a brand-new industry, create jobs and deliver a lasting legacy of economic growth through clean, reliable energy,” he said.

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Related article: Soil turned at Fortescue’s Arizona Hydrogen project

The company intends to bring its metals and green energy businesses back together after they were separated last year amid an exodus of senior executives.

Fortescue recently announced it would reduce its global workforce and was unlikely to meet 2030 targets for green hydrogen production.

Despite market analysts suggesting Fortescue was slowing down its hydrogen developments, the company said it would initially focus on four green hydrogen projects in Australia, the United States, Norway and Brazil.

Fortescue plans to boost capital expenditures at its energy division to $500 million—up from initial forecasts of $300 million.

Related article: Fortescue to develop green hydrogen, ammonia in Morocco

Shares in Fortescue fell by 2.7%, outpacing smaller losses among other Australian miners, with the price of iron ore dropping below $100/tonne.

The post Fortescue to boost energy investment despite job cuts appeared first on Energy Source & Distribution.

Why hydrogen, and why here?

Hydrogen can be a carrier of energy where you cannot directly electrify or use batteries, whether a matter of time or weight or distance, says Australian Hydrogen Council CEO Dr Fiona Simon.

“Australia has incredible renewable energy potential and existing infrastructure to support new export markets. We also have manufacturing opportunities, such as components and assembly for electrolysers.

“The major opportunities are currently in the production of green and clean hydrogen and derivatives such as green ammonia, green metals and sustainable aviation fuel. This will open up opportunities to decarbonise domestically and create new export markets with our strategic trade partners such as Japan and Korea.”

Related article: Aussie breakthrough to slash green hydrogen costs by 40%

Misconceptions and applications

Dr Nikolai Kinaev, leader of CSIRO’s Hydrogen Energy Systems Future Science Platform, says hydrogen is often misunderstood.

“Hydrogen is not a fuel. Fuel is something you burn or use to get more energy from than you use to produce. When you produce hydrogen from electrolysis, you split the water molecule and spend some energy. Unfortunately, due to thermodynamics, you use more energy to produce hydrogen than you get from it. However, with so-called ‘natural’ hydrogen that is formed sub-surface, the energy is kindly donated by geological processes, which means we can see it as ‘free energy’,” he says.

“The other misconception is that hydrogen is a silver bullet. It is simply an important part of an overall, balanced solution.”

Dr Kinaev outlines some of the main applications for hydrogen in Australia’s decarbonisation journey:

Energy storage

Hydrogen can be used as an energy storage medium to balance renewables’ intermittency in the electricity grid. Excess electricity, particularly from wind or solar, can be used to produce hydrogen through electrolysis. The hydrogen can then be stored and converted back to electricity when needed. Hydrogen can also be used as longer-term seasonal energy storage, storing excess energy generated during peak times for use during periods of high demand.

Industrial use

Hydrogen is an excellent feedstock for industrial processes such as the production of ammonia for fertilisers, petroleum refining, and the production of methanol. It can also be used in industries like steel production as a reducing agent to remove oxygen from iron ore, lowering carbon emissions. Hydrogen can also be used to convert biomass or waste into synthetic fuels.

Transportation

Hydrogen is used as a fuel in fuel cell vehicles (FCVs), where it reacts with oxygen in a fuel cell to produce electricity, powering the vehicle’s electric motor. FCVs emit only water vapor as a byproduct, making them a zero-emission option. Hydrogen can also be used directly or blended with traditional fuels in internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles.

Power generation

Hydrogen can be used in combined heat and power (CHP) systems to generate both electricity and heat for industrial and residential applications. It can also be burned in gas turbines for power generation during peak demand periods.

Commercialisation challenges

Launched in 2021, CSIRO’s Hydrogen Industry Mission focuses on leveraging the national science agency’s hydrogen research capabilities in partnership with government, industry and the research community.

“When it comes to commercial viability, the challenge is to have a project that is good science and relevant to the industry,” Dr Kinaev explains, noting that most of the hydrogen technologies we need are already available.

“If we wanted to switch our hydrogen industry on tomorrow, we could. It wouldn’t be efficient or cost-effective, but it could be done,” he says.

“A key factor is supply and demand. Users won’t invest heavily in hydrogen use applications unless they are sure there is a demand for it.

“Secondly, you need the infrastructure for production, storage, transport, etc. Green hydrogen depends on renewables. We need to look at a storage and distribution network suitable for hybrid large-scale production. Then, we need to identify where is the technology gap for use of hydrogen at smaller scales.”

“Thirdly, little will progress unless we have good social acceptance. We need social surveys carried out by social scientists who provide expertise through advance maths to gauge social acceptance.”

Innovation and opportunity

Hydrogen provides an opportunity for moving manufacturing back to Australia on a new technology level that is environmentally friendly,” Dr Kinaev explains.

“It provides an opportunity to bring sovereign industry back to Australia through which we can generate wealth, not just from the resources but also from the products. Australia has a good chance to become a supplier of technologies and critical parts for hydrogen-related technologies as well.”

Dr Kinaev also points to Australia’s development of hydrogen hubs as “world-class models” for industry.

“Because we have various types of hydrogen producers, handlers and users, it is important to have a compact area where all these stakeholders can learn what type of infrastructure they need, how to interact with each other and work on the synergy required. Hubs are not just centrepieces but ecosystems; a small model for a much larger industry.

Australian companies are also responsible for a number of breakthroughs in electrolysis, with Hysata and CSIRO spin-offs Hadean Energy and Endua demonstrating world standards in terms of the efficiency. Sparc Hydrogen and its university partners have developed breakthroughs in photocatalytic water splitting, which provides an alternate method of producing renewable green hydrogen.

Universities and CSIRO are both working in this area, with CSIRO looking at the manufacture of scalable options.

Accelerating Aussie hydrogen

Asked about the policies and initiatives required to keep Australia at the forefront of the global hydrogen market, Australian Hydrogen Council CEO Dr Fiona Simon says the Federal Budget measures announced by the Australian Government in May were “an important step in the right direction”.

“However, steps need to be taken quickly to ensure there is clear policy to get major hydrogen projects for the 2030s and 2040s to a final investment decision. Incentives are absolutely vital. The public interest is in decarbonisation, and without very strong economy-wide price signals to value carbon—and even with them—we need to look at incentives from government to help bridge the gap,” she says.

“We expect more to be addressed in the refreshed National Hydrogen Strategy, which is to be released this year.”

Hysata CEO Dr Paul Barrett says Australia must ensure cohesion with trading partners to facilitate global trade of hydrogen and its derivatives.

“Trade agreements with our allies, with the goal of securing offtake of Australian-produced hydrogen or derivatives, notably green iron, can help projects reach final investment decision,” he explains.

“Australia will also see a large demand for electrolysers, and other equipment and materials that are needed across the green hydrogen supply chain. Hysata would like to see strong domestic content requirements across Hydrogen Headstart and the Hydrogen Production Tax Incentive program in line with what we are witnessing in the EU and US. It is important for Australia to build self-reliance in the green hydrogen industry to accelerate its scaling.

“Hysata would also like to see the federal and state governments establish green iron as a priority industry for the country and support its development and export. Iron is of critical national importance to the Australian economy and global industry, estimated at approximately AU$135 billion in domestic export earnings for the most recent financial year. Converting it to green iron has the potential to increase our export earnings from iron ore five times. South Australia is moving ahead with its green iron strategy, and we would like to see other governments follow.”

Related article: Findings shared from Australia’s first hydrogen microgrid

Did you know?

It is estimated the clean hydrogen industry will support 16,000 jobs by 2050, plus an additional 13,000 from the construction of related renewable energy infrastructure. Australian hydrogen production for export and domestic use could generate more than $50 billion in additional GDP by 2050, and result in avoided greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to a third of Australia’s current fossil fuel emissions by 2050.

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Barwon Water aims to investigate the use of pure oxygen produced as a byproduct of electrolysis to treat water more efficiently at its Northern Water Plant in Geelong and reduce wastewater treatment plant emissions.

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Barwon Water’s project will highlight how renewable hydrogen producers and wastewater treatment players can work together to decarbonise, illustrating mutually beneficial opportunities between sectors through the clean energy transition.

Conducted over two stages, ARENA’s funding will support Barwon Water to first conduct a front-end engineering and design study to determine the technical and commercial feasibility of using pure oxygen captured from an electrolyser in its wastewater treatment process, which currently employs an oxygen-based aerobic treatment process.

Oxygen will be sourced from Viva Energy’s new hydrogen refuelling station at the nearby Viva Energy Hub, which is deploying a 2.5-megawatt electrolyser.

Importantly, outcomes of this project will also help to quantify a potential ancillary revenue stream for renewable hydrogen producers through the sale of oxygen, which may otherwise be discarded.

There are more than 1,200 wastewater treatment plants operating in Australia which contribute more than 2.95 million tonnes of CO2e to Australia’s emissions. Insights gained from this project, including increased understanding of approval pathways and required interfaces, as well as potential capital and operating savings, have the potential to lead to innovative improvements throughout the sector.

Related article: A close look at Jemena and Sydney Water’s Malabar Biomethane project

Barwon Water managing director Shaun Cumming said, “We’re excited to explore the beneficial use of pure oxygen as a byproduct of renewable hydrogen production at the Viva Energy Hub hydrogen refuelling station. It’s an exciting opportunity to reduce emissions from wastewater treatment.

“We look forward to building on the benefits of Viva Energy’s new service station project with this investment and sharing the potential benefits for wastewater treatment with the water sector.”

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Related article: WA to host first TAFE Clean Energy Skills Centre

TAFE Queensland proudly opened the new Hydrogen and Renewable Energy Training Facility and Advanced Manufacturing Skills Lab at the Townsville Trade Training Centre in Bohle, marking a significant step forward in supporting emerging industries and providing them with a pipeline of skilled workers well into the future.

TAFE Queensland North region general manager Susan Kinobe said, “For over 140 years, TAFE Queensland has been at the heart of Queensland communities.

“The new Hydrogen and Renewable Energy Training Facility and Advanced Manufacturing Skills Lab will enable TAFE Queensland to continue this legacy by training skilled workers for emerging industries like hydrogen and advanced manufacturing, ensuring long-term growth and sustainability.”

The state-of-the-art facilities will offer a range of training options, from nationally recognised certificates and diplomas to skill sets, micro-credentials, and trade tasters for high school students as part of the TAFE at School program.

These programs will cover areas such as sustainable energy, autonomous technologies, and robotics, equipping students with the skills required for the jobs of tomorrow.

Each year, more than 2,000 trade apprentices are trained at the Bohle campus. With the addition of the new training facilities, North Queenslanders will have even greater access to cutting-edge education and skills development in hydrogen and advanced manufacturing.

Related article: Australia’s first Hydrogen training centre opens in Brisbane

“There’s never been a better time to take on a trade—it might just change your life. These new facilities open up exciting possibilities for North Queenslanders to gain the skills needed for the future of work,” Kinobe said.

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The announcement is backed by CIC’s development, in partnership with GE Vernova, of self-contained modules that produce zero-carbon hydrogen.

Compared to traditional renewable hydrogen production, which typically sources vast quantities of water from piped water sources and grid electricity, CIC’s modular hydrogen production units are designed to operate entirely off-grid, reducing demand on governments and communities to fund supporting infrastructure.

Related article: Findings shared from Australia’s first hydrogen microgrid

Each module contains solar panels, atmospheric water generators, electrolysers and supporting infrastructure to produce hydrogen as an individual standalone unit. Crucially, the use of atmospheric water allows hydrogen to be produced anywhere where solar radiation is abundant, opening up new locations in central Australia as potential renewable fuel hubs.

CIC chair and co-founder David Green said the approach would unlock inland hydrogen production opportunities in solar-rich locations such as the Northern Territory and South Australia.

“Renewable hydrogen production requires a significant amount of energy and water, which aren’t often found together in places like Australia,” he said.

“Rather than repeating the same approach, we’re looking to solve this challenge by creating modules that use Australia’s abundant solar resources, combined with proven atmospheric water generation technology.

“It’s an approach that solves one of the biggest challenges Australia has faced in becoming a renewable hydrogen superpower, and we’re excited to be bringing it to market first in Australia.”

CIC recently announced its partnership with GE Vernova, which will see the two companies work together to maximise the efficiency of the hydrogen production modules. The company has now secured offtake buyers for enough Australian-produced renewable hydrogen and hydrogen derivatives to support the development of large-scale renewable hydrogen projects in Australia.

CIC’s 10GW projects would be by far the largest renewable hydrogen projects developed in Australia to date.

With the first test modules expected to be producing hydrogen in the Northern Territory or South Australia as soon as later this year, Green also called on Australian governments to embrace the opportunity ahead of them.

Related article: Hydrogen heads meet in nation’s capital to discuss priorities

“We need Australian governments to lean in if we want Australia to lead in this technology instead of being of it being used in other countries first,” he said.

“We’re speaking to leaders in Adelaide and Darwin about renewable hydrogen projects in their states and territories, as well as component manufacturing, that will provide ongoing jobs for hundreds of people while producing zero-carbon fuels.

“Government support on permitting, streamlining approvals process, and ensuring suitable sites are available would accelerate this investment significantly.”

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Related article: Hydrogen heads meet in nation’s capital to discuss priorities

The project, which is now fully operational, includes a 704kW solar farm, 348kW hydrogen electrolyser and a 100kW fuel cell located in Denham, providing an innovative alternative to diesel generators. It is expected to offset 140,000 litres of diesel each year.

The unique integration of renewable energy and hydrogen components sets the project apart from others in Australia.

The Public Knowledge Sharing Report will help to advance learnings in technology, costs, regulatory requirements as well as the community sentiment around using hydrogen as a fuel source.

It will be used to determine how hydrogen technology can be applied in other remote microgrids.

The project was funded by the Western Australian Government, including through the Renewable Hydrogen Fund and Horizon Power, and ARENA‘s Advancing Renewables Program.

WA Premier Roger Cook said, “I want to see WA become a renewable energy powerhouse, and hydrogen will have an important role to play in our clean energy future.

“This innovative project helps to reduce our reliance on diesel in remote areas, delivering cleaner, affordable and reliable power for Denham.

Related article: Aussie breakthrough to slash green hydrogen costs by 40%

“The knowledge we’ve gained through this pilot project will help to guide future remote uses of renewable hydrogen across WA and the rest of the nation.”

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Minister for Climate Change and Energy, the Hon Chris Bowen MP, took the opportunity to address AHC members and reinforce the Australian Government’s commitment to key policies such as the Future Made in Australia, Hydrogen Headstart and Hydrogen Production Tax Credit.

Related article: Aussie breakthrough to slash green hydrogen costs by 40%

Minister Bowen said consultation was key to the progression of these policies, and encouraged industry to participate in what he said would be a short and sharp consultation process, including the Hydrogen Production Tax Credit consultation paper which was released on Friday and has a two-week submission process.

Australian Hydrogen Council CEO Dr Fiona Simon said she was pleased that Australia was starting to prioritise uses for hydrogen, however, stressed the importance of the Federal Government progressing its recent budget measures quickly.

“The strong industry turnout at our Parliamentary Friends of Hydrogen meeting was a positive signal to the government and friends of Parliament that the hydrogen industry is serious about achieving policy certainty with projects underway that rely on government support,” she said.

“Incentives such as Hydrogen Production Tax Credit and Hydrogen Headstart are absolutely vital. The public interest is in decarbonisation, and without very strong economy-wide price signals to value carbon—and even with them—we need to look at incentives from government to help bridge the gap and get major projects over the line for the 2030s and 2040s.”

The meeting also included a technology showcase headlined by four hydrogen fuel cell vehicles—Hyzon Refuse Truck, Hyundai NEXO, Toyota Mirai and a BMW iX5—demonstrating one of the end use applications for hydrogen.

It also included a showcase of technology from Energys (fuel cell), ENEOS (direct MCH production), Innomotics (motors and drives), Star Scientific (catalyst), Toyota (hydrogen generators and vehicles) and CarbonNet (CCS). Xodus and Coregas also showcased their projects.

Related article: Sparc Hydrogen progresses pilot plant development

The meeting also welcomed strategic stakeholders from Australian Government agencies— ARENA, DCCEEW, DFAT, DISR, DITRDCA—and the Embassies of Japan, Republic of Korea and Federal Republic of Germany, with special guest His Excellency Kazuhiro Suzuki, Japanese Ambassador to Australia contributing valuable insights.

AHC’s focus now turns to critical industry consultations on the Hydrogen Production Tax Incentive, green metals, low carbon fuels, and broader transport decarbonisation whilst continuing to foster Australia’s trading relationships with Japan and Korea.

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Sparc has also secured an in-principle agreement from the University of Adelaide to locate the plant at its Roseworthy Campus, and progressed the detailed design and engineering for the pilot-scale water splitting reactor.

Related article: Aussie breakthrough to slash green hydrogen costs by 40%

Each of these milestones represents material de-risking of the pilot plant development workstreams building on from the pre-FEED study and the successful prototyping work completed at the CSIRO Energy Centre in early April 2024.

In parallel, work continues in the laboratory to test and optimise Sparc Hydrogen’s photocatalytic water splitting reactor under a range of conditions using different photocatalyst materials. A decision to proceed with the pilot plant remains subject to Sparc Hydrogen board approval.

Sparc Technologies managing director Nick O’Loughlin said, “Sparc is delighted with the progress that the Sparc Hydrogen team has made over recent weeks and months with respect to key development workstreams for the pilot plant.

“In particular, formalising a relationship with Shinshu University providing a collaboration for the supply of their world-leading photocatalysts for testing in Sparc Hydrogen’s reactors, is a significant milestone.

“I would also like to thank the University of Adelaide for their ongoing support, as evidenced by the in-principle decision to locate the pilot plant at Roseworthy Campus.”

Related article: Sparc tests photocatalytic water splitting reactor at CSIRO

Shinshu University Professor Kazunari Domen commented, “Shinshu University is pleased to collaborate with Sparc Hydrogen on the research, development and field testing of a concentrated sunlight water splitting photocatalytic reaction system.

“Such reaction environments have not been tested at Shinshu University before, and we are very interested to see what kind of activity and reaction characteristics our photocatalyst will exhibit. The knowledge gained will be important for the scale-up of the reactor.”

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Related article: ZEN partners with Mitsubishi’s DGA on green hydrogen

The MoU between Solarig and Jemena focuses first on the development of hydrogen production and blending facilities in regional New South Wales, which will initially inject up to 35Tj of renewable hydrogen per year into Jemena’s New South Wales gas distribution network.

If successful, both parties will work to further develop additional renewable hydrogen initiatives helping to build Australia’s renewable hydrogen market, and positioning NSW as a prominent national and international hub.

Jemena will undertake feasibility assessments for renewable hydrogen to be blended into the network so it can be used by homes, businesses, and industrial customers downstream of the injection site.

Jemena managing director David Gillespie said, “Australia is right in the midst of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to decarbonise our energy sector. But we know there is not one silver bullet that is going to help us reach our emission reduction targets.

“We are going to need a mix of renewable energy fuels to ensure Australia can reach net zero, while still delivering safe and reliable energy. Forming these types of relationships is essential to developing a robust renewable gas sector.”

Related article: Regulator fines Jemena over alleged gas breaches

The Solarig project in regional NSW is one of the first commercial renewable hydrogen facilities proposed for connection to the Jemena network and, subject to meeting the pre-feasibility requirements, will be one of the first commercial renewable hydrogen blending projects in Australia.

The post Jemena and Spain’s Solarig to partner on renewable hydrogen appeared first on Energy Source & Distribution.

Related article: ZEN proposes 1GW Western Sydney Pumped Hydro project

The partnership leverages the strengths of ZEN in procuring, trading, and marketing 100% renewable electricity, DGA in the design and delivery of hydrogen plants, and Mitsubishi in trading and investment activities across a wide range of industrial value chains.

DGA Energy Solutions Australia was founded in 2023 and is responsible for the development of, and investment in, Mitsubishi’s renewable energy, green hydrogen, and green ammonia projects in the Oceania region.

ZEN supplies renewable electricity to a portfolio of government and business customers across Australia, sourced from a generation portfolio comprising solar, battery storage and pumped hydro projects across Australia.

ZEN Energy CEO Anthony Garnaut said, “This partnership will accelerate Australia’s journey to becoming a renewable energy superpower.

“Australia is now the leading supplier of energy and minerals to Japan. If we are to retain this position in 2050, we need to create new, sustainable ways of producing versions of the products we currently sell to Japan.

“We cannot do this alone. It requires partnerships with organisations like DGA and MC, who share our vision, and are willing to invest the needed effort and leverage their networks to help create new value chains.

Related article: ZEN secures funds to start Templers Battery in SA

“DGA will join with other key partners who are committed to realising the superpower opportunity, including select state and local governments, energy infrastructure owners, and providers of the industrial services needed to build new value chains.”

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Premier Peter Malinauskas signed the letter with California in the presence of the Acting Governor of California Eleni Kounalakis in Sacramento on Wednesday, on the first leg of his trip to the United States.

Related article: South Australia sets ambitious 100% renewables target

Both states have agreed to work together on:

• Developing world-leading clean renewable hydrogen projects for the production of green hydrogen and other low and zero carbon fuels and scaling hydrogen production for use and export, including cooperation between Hydrogen Power SA and the California Natural Resources Agency and California Energy Commission.
• Advancing the clean energy transition and its integration of renewable energy into their respective grids.
• Exchanging leading practices on regulations and standards-setting to support the development of a clean renewable hydrogen industry.
• Advancing large-scale renewable energy generation and storage such as wind, solar PV, batteries and long duration energy storage.
• Supporting the decarbonisation and electrification of buildings, industry, and transportation, to increase grid flexibility, demand response, and vehicle-to-grid technologies.
• Supporting technologies to achieve better energy efficiency and demand management and enable distributed energy resources.
• Exchanging best practices on policies and other mechanisms to support the uptake of zero emission vehicles, including light-duty passenger vehicles, medium-duty and heavy-duty trucks and buses, and goods movement, and investment in charging and refuelling infrastructure.
• Exploring cooperation on strategies to further the transition of high emitting industries and industrial processes to low carbon alternatives.
• Accelerating concrete actions across our similar Mediterranean climates to protect communities and adapt to current and future climate impacts.
• Nature-based solutions to improve ecological function and to help address climate change.
• Methane mitigation.
• Research and industry partnerships in low carbon technologies.
• Strengthening critical minerals supply chains.

Like South Australia, California is a global leader when it comes to renewable energy, with both states achieving periods where 100% of their energy needs have come from renewable sources.

California has been selected by the United States Department of Energy to be a National Hydrogen Hub, with $1.2 billion invested to accelerate the development and deployment of clean renewable hydrogen.

As part of the State Prosperity Project, South Australia is building the world’s largest hydrogen power plant and electrolyser at Whyalla.

South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas said, “This is a significant step forward for our two states and I am honoured that California has agreed to partner with South Australia.
South Australia and California have many shared interests—we both enjoy a Mediterranean climate, we have shared values and we both have ambitions to lead the world in decarbonisation.

“We are both already leaders in our respective nations when it comes to renewable energy, and we both share a commitment to advance clean hydrogen technology.

Related article: Redflow eyes fourth big battery project in California

“Like South Australia, California enjoys plentiful solar and wind resources, as well as the critical minerals the world needs to decarbonise.

“It just makes sense that two global leaders in renewable energy like South Australia and California should work together to advance our shared interests in clean energy to advance our states’ economies and the world’s drive towards decarbonisation.”

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