Hydrogen infrastructure company Hydrogen Utility (H2U) will construct a 15MW hydrogen electrolyser power plant near Port Lincoln, South Australia.
The $117.5 million project – to be delivered in partnership with German-based thyssenkrupp – will integrate a range of innovative hydrogen technologies, including a 15MW electrolyser plant, a distributed ammonia production facility, and a 10MW hydrogen-fired gas turbine and 5MW hydrogen fuel cell, which will both supply power to the grid.
H2U CEO Dr Attilio Pigneri said the electrolyser plant will be one of the largest of its kind in the world, and among the first ever to produce distributed ammonia from intermittent renewable resources that can be used as an industrial fertiliser.
“The facility will be an exemplar of the synergies associated with hydrogen,” he said.
“It will provide balancing services to the national transmission grid, fast frequency response support to new solar plants under development in the Eyre Peninsula, supply green ammonia and other chemicals to the local farming and aquaculture sectors, and host the demonstration, at scale, of novel supply chain technologies for the export of green hydrogen from Australia to markets in the Asia-Pacific region.”
“The project will provide the perfect training ground for a new wave of green hydrogen professionals.”
The project has been supported with a $4.7 million grant and $7.5 million loan from the State Government’s Renewable Technology Fund.
Treasurer Tom Koutsantonis said it would create about 30 construction and 30 ongoing jobs.
“More renewable energy means cheaper power and the ability to store renewables means the benefits of that cheap power can be experienced around the clock. Hydrogen also offers an opportunity to create a new industry in South Australia where we can export our sun and wind resources to the world,” Mr Koutsantonis continued.
“South Australia is at the global forefront of a broad range of storage technology, from big batteries, to virtual power plants to pumped hydro – now we will also be home to one of the largest hydrogen production facilities in the world as well.”
“H2U and thyssenkrupp are at the cutting edge of the development of hydrogen production and fuel cell technology, and the fact that they have chosen South Australia for the development of this project speaks volumes for our State.”
thyssenkrupp Industrial Solutions (Australia) CEO Andrew Howie said the company was very excited for the opportunity to work with H2U and help Australia on its way forward into a sustainable future.
“We can build on our local footprint and long heritage as a partner to Australia,” Mr Howie added.
“Our technology portfolio focusing on sustainable solutions and our project optimization experience enables us to contribute to all stages of implementation of green hydrogen and its further uses.”
