HESC Project achieves another significant milestone with the successful installation of the Liquefied Hydrogen Storage Tank on the SUISO FRONTIER
27 March 2020
Hydrogen Energy Supply Chain (HESC) project partners recognise the ground-breaking achievements by Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. (KHI) for another significant project milestone with the successful installation of the Liquefied Hydrogen (LH2) storage tank for marine transport on the SUISO FRONTIER.
KHI leveraged its extensive experience, technology and knowledge in cryogenic equipment manufacturing to attain state of the art, ultra-high thermal insulation performance for the LH2 storage tank.
The storage tank is a world-leading and game-changing technological development likely to boost the global hydrogen economy. It features a double-shell structure with vacuum insulation between overlapping inner and outer shell layers supported by high strength glass-fibre-reinforced plastic. The high performing LH2 storage tank will enable the safe transport of liquefied hydrogen in large quantities over long distances by sea, facilitating the creation of integrated hydrogen supply chains and hydrogen export around the world.
The SUISO FRONTIER is a key component of the HESC Project which will see the establishment of the world first international hydrogen energy supply chain, whereby liquefied hydrogen produced in Australia will be shipped to Japan. By progressing its ship building ambitions for world-leading and safe liquefied hydrogen carriers, KHI hopes to contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, and realising a sustainable Hydrogen Society.
Japan’s Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, Mr Hiroshi Kajiyama and Senator, the Hon. Matthew Canavan, Australia’s Federal Minister for Resources signed a Joint Statement of Co-operation on Hydrogen and Fuel Cells at the Australia-Japan Ministerial Economic Dialogue in Melbourne, on 10 January 2020, reinforcing both countries’ “strong commitment to deploying hydrogen as a clean, secure, affordable and sustainable energy source”.
The statement emphasised hydrogen as a key contributor to emissions reductions, “especially when produced from renewable energy or fossil fuels combined with Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage (CCUS),” and acknowledged “the steady progress of the [HESC project] towards establishing an international hydrogen supply chain.”
The HESC Project Partners appreciated the reference to the HESC Project as a cornerstone of the bilateral relationship between Australia and Japan. This support highlights the importance of this project for the two countries. Fully realised, it will create a new Australian industry, built around clean hydrogen production, exports and technology.
The two Ministers’ reaffirmation of the importance of cooperation, both bilaterally and internationally, on harmonisation of hydrogen policies, market regulations, codes and standards, aimed at spurring international demand was also reassuring. This will be key to providing businesses with the necessary confidence and incentives to invest and realise the full hydrogen potential. In this regard, the Joint Statement overtly mentions the links between the two Governments’ national hydrogen strategies.
The HESC Project Partners look forward to continuing their collaboration with the Japanese, Victorian and Australian Federal Governments to support the implementation of this Joint Statement and its objectives through the successful implementation of the HESC Project.
Hydrogen Energy Supply Chain (HESC) project partners congratulate fellow partner, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. (KHI) in achieving a major project milestone today, launching the world’s first liquefied hydrogen carrier, SUISO FRONTIER at its Kobe works site in Japan.
The carrier has been developed specifically for the HESC project to transport liquefied hydrogen from the Port of Hastings in Victoria to Japan.
The launch of the SUISO FRONTIER follows other recent and significant HESC milestones including the commencement of construction of the project’s hydrogen liquefaction and loading terminal at the Port of Hastings in July, and the commencement of construction of the brown coal gasification and gas-refining plant in the Latrobe Valley in early November.
It also follows hot on the heels of the release of Australia’s National Hydrogen Strategy.
These events demonstrate a significant step forward in Australia and Japan’s pursuit of a hydrogen energy society and supports Australia in responsibly transitioning to a secure, economically viable, low carbon energy future.
The HESC project has the potential to be a game changer in the future, together with carbon capture and storage, providing an innovative, economically viable and environmentally conscious solution to producing hydrogen safely, through the conversion of brown coal to hydrogen.
Australia could be the first country to create a thriving hydrogen export industry with huge local economic benefits.
The Latrobe Valley has the resources, infrastructure and capacity to become the centre for a new energy industry using the area’s abundant coal resources in a sustainable manner and help Australia transition to a low carbon energy regime.
Following today’s launch the carrier will be installed with a vacuum insulated double-walled liquefied hydrogen storage tank with a capacity of 1,250m3.
Construction will be complete in late 2020 to complement the commencement of HESC pilot’s full operation by 2021.
Hydrogen is gaining momentum world-wide as one of the clean energy sources of the future.
The approval of the strategy by COAG Ministers highlights the bipartisan support for hydrogen and acknowledges the domestic and international opportunities it presents to Australia.
Government and industry have clearly stated that Australia could be a world leader in hydrogen given its abundant energy resources and proximity to emerging hydrogen import markets in North Asia.
The strategy represents a key milestone in this journey and we are hopeful that it will provide a conducive policy setting for our world-first end-to-end hydrogen energy supply chain pilot – HESC.
HESC is a significant collaboration between Australia and Japan, and a fundamental component of a new, clean hydrogen export industry.
The strategy’s reference to the HESC Project as a key catalyst to kick-start a commercially viable Australian hydrogen industry in the near term is encouraging.
At a commercial scale, incorporating carbon capture and storage in the production of hydrogen from brown coal would support government and industry’s efforts to responsibly transition to a secure, economically viable, low carbon energy future.
It would be a game changer for business and industry and the broader economy, generating significant jobs and export revenue.
We look forward to continuing to collaborate with the Japanese, Victorian and Australian Governments to support the rollout of the Strategy through the successful implementation of the HESC Project.
Laying the foundations for Victoria’s hydrogen industry
HESC Project Partners, Japanese Government and diplomatic dignitaries, and Commonwealth, State and local government representatives gathered at the HESC Loy Yang plant site today to participate in a Cornerstone Laying ceremony to commemorate the start of construction.
In attendance at the ceremony were: The Honourable Tim Pallas MP, Treasurer, Minister for Economic Development, and Minister for Industrial Relations; H.E. Reiichiro Takahashi, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan in Australia; The Honourable Melina Bath MLC; representing Eastern Victoria; The Honourable Russell Northe MP, Member for Morwell; Mr Dan Clancy, Mayor of the Latrobe City Council; Mr Toshiyuki Shirai, Director, Advanced Energy Systems and Structure Division, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Department, Agency for Natural Resources and Energy, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry [METI]; and, Mr Masayoshi Kitamura, Chairman, J-POWER.
Such ceremonies are traditional in Japan where foundation stones are laid at the start of construction of a new building or structure, along with a time capsule artefact. In this instance a document signed by Japanese, Commonwealth and Victorian government representatives was stored with the Cornerstone Box to acknowledge their support of the project and the journey to realise the end to end supply chain of brown coal to hydrogen.
HESC welcomes Sumitomo Corporation as a Project Partner
The HESC project partners are pleased to announce that Japanese trading giant Sumitomo Corporation have joined the project consortium to deliver the Hydrogen Energy Supply Chain project.
Sumitomo joins a group of highly experienced industry partners comprising Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI), Electric Power Development Co. (J-Power), Iwatani Corporation, Marubeni Corporation and AGL.
Sumitomo will take a lead role in communicating with the CarbonNet Project throughout the HESC pilot phase. Funded by the Australian and Victorian Governments, CarbonNet is investigating the potential for establishing a commercial-scale carbon capture and storage (CCS) network in Victoria’s Latrobe Valley and is a critical enabler of HESC moving to a commercial phase.
In May 2018, Sumitomo established the ‘Hydrogen Working Group’ to centralise their business opportunities and build their network within the hydrogen community. Sumitomo is actively seeking further opportunities to discuss and encourage the materialisation of a hydrogen-based society.
Sumitomo joins the HESC project during a period of great momentum for hydrogen in Australia. Project partners have presented at several forums to highlight the technologies involved in the HESC project as well as joining the broader discussion on developing Australia’s National Hydrogen Strategy.
Together, the project partners will demonstrate the coal gasification process, inland transportation, liquefaction of hydrogen and overseas transportation to Japan via specialised marine carrier. Construction of these facilities commenced earlier this year and the project partners look forward to seeing the first shipment of hydrogen leave the Port of Hastings next year.
Around 65 stakeholders attended our second round of Community Information Sessions in August.
The HESC team held two sessions in Hastings and two sessions in the Latrobe Valley. These sessions were a welcome opportunity to chat to the community about their thoughts and questions on the project, and for the HESC team to provide current information about the status of the pilot project.
Community members were particularly interested in carbon emissions, management of the marine environment in Hastings and details of the gasification (and resulting by-products) in the Latrobe Valley.
If you were unable to make any of these sessions but would like to find out more please don’t hesitate to get in contact with us on 1800 875 251 or via e-mail at info@hydrogenenergysupplychain.com.
HESC Project Partners recently filed their submissions to the COAG Energy Council Working Group to help develop a National Hyrdrogen Strategy (NHS).
Established by the COAG Energy Council, the Hydrogen Working Group is aiming to develop an NHS to:
Build a clean, innovative and competitve hydrogen industry.
Position Australia’s hydrogen industry as a major global player by 2030.
In April 2019, HESC filed a submission in response to the Working Group’s Request for Information.
In July 2019, the Working Group released nine issues papers to help develop an NHS. These papers were informed by submissions to the Working Group’s initial Request for Information. The Working Group sought responses from industry and wider the community to questions in the papers.
The HESC project team is holding community drop-in sessions in Hastings and the Latrobe Valley in August 2019. Come along to speak to a member of the project team.
Traralgon
Saturday 10 August 2019
10:00am to 5:00pm
Stockland Traralgon, 166/188 Franklin Street, Traralgon
Hastings
Tuesday 13 August 2019
11:00am to 7:00pm
Hastings Community Hub, 1973 Frankston-Flinders Road, Hastings
Morwell
Thursday 15 August 2019
11:00am to 7:00pm
Morwell Bowling Club, 52 Hazelwood Road, Morwell
Hastings
Saturday 17 August 2019
10:00am to 5:00pm
Hastings Community Hub, 1973 Frankston-Flinders Road, Hastings
The HESC Project Partners, together with the Australian and Victorian Governments, the Japanese Ambassador to Australia and distinguished guests today marked the start of construction at the HESC Liquefaction and Loading Facility with a commemorative sod turn at the site.
Attendees at the event included the Minister for Resources and Northern Australia, Senator the Hon Matthew Canavan, the Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, Senator the Hon Simon Birmingham, the Japanese Ambassador to Australia, His Excellency Reiichiro Takahashi, and the Treasurer of Victoria, the Hon Tim Pallas MP.
Chairman of the Board of Kawasaki, Mr Shigeru Murayama said: “Delivering clean hydrogen to the world for the benefit of our environment is a goal we share deeply and we look forward to achieving.”
The HESC Project was in the spotlight at the
Inaugural Australian Hydrogen Energy Summit held in Melbourne on 26/27 March
2019.
Touted as a world-first
project of international significance for the establishment of an end-to-end
hydrogen supply chain between Australia and Japan, it featured prominently in
the forum discussion.
Mr Seiji Hongo, Director, Chief Operating Officer
at J-Power Latrobe Valley Pty Ltd, and Mr Hirofumi Kawazoe, Engineering Manager
for Hydrogen Engineering Australia Pty Ltd, provided an overview of the project
in the context of Japan’s ambitious hydrogen society targets – as set-out in
its Basic Hydrogen Strategy 2017 – including the Japanese Government’s commitment
to establish a global hydrogen supply chain at a target cost for hydrogen
production of around USD$3 per kilogram by 2030.
The presentation was an opportunity to share some
of the recent and exciting project developments including the Environment Protection
Agency’s (EPA) approval of J-Power’s Research, Development and Demonstration (RD&D)
application to investigate the potential for converting coal to hydrogen at
AGL’s Loy Yang facility.
A first for Australia, the Summit highlights the
extent of the hydrogen opportunity for the country, both in terms of export
potential and as a key part of our future energy mix. It is intended to become an annual event.
As well as showcasing the HESC Project, government
and industry thought leaders considered how the private and public sector should
be working together to commercialise hydrogen and promote a clean and safe
energy future for Australia and the world.
Commonwealth
Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation’s (CSIRO) Dr Patrick Hartley
and Dr David Harris presented their National Hydrogen Roadmap, and their
research work on cutting-edge emerging hydrogen technology pathways.
Representatives from South Australia’s Department
of Energy and Mining, as well as
Queensland’s Department of State Development, showcased
their respective work to incorporate hydrogen into the states’ future
energy supply chains.
Hydrogen Mobility Australia, AAHE, Woodside Energy
and ATCO Gas also delivered presentations on their forward-looking hydrogen
initiatives.
The Summit
drew around 100 attendees from the government, industry and scientific sectors,
demonstrating the growing momentum in Australia for a new, exciting hydrogen
industry. Media representatives also
attended.
The HESC project was in the spotlight at the Inaugural Hydrogen Energy Summit held in Melbourne on 26 March 2019.
To learn more about the Australian Hydrogen Energy Summit, click here.
On the 1st of March 2019 in a joint release between the Minister for Energy, the Hon Angus Taylor MP and the Minister for Resources and Northern Australia, the Hon Matt Canavan announced public input to inform the development of a new clean hydrogen industry.
Public feedback will inform and develop a draft strategy, to be publicly released in September 2019. The COAG Hydrogen Working Group will conduct an extensive consultation across Australia during 2019, in person and through electronic submissions. The department invited interested parties to comment by 28 March 2019.
February 2019: The Hydrogen Energy Supply Chain (HESC) Project Partners are pleased to announce that the Environment Protection Authority Victoria (EPA) has approved an application from J-Power Latrobe Valley Pty Ltd (wholly subsidiary company of J-POWER) for a Research, Development and Demonstration (RD&D) Project.
The approval will allow the construction and operation of a pilot scale gasification and gas refining plant within AGL’s Loy Yang complex. Construction of the pilot facility will commence mid-2019 and the one-year pilot will operate from 2020.
HESC is a world-first pilot project to safely and efficiently produce and transport low emissions hydrogen energy from Victoria’s Latrobe Valley to Japan, being delivered in partnership with the Australian and Victorian Governments.
This is an exciting opportunity for Victoria and Japan to partner for mutual benefit and to work towards creating an environmentally sustainable solution that will put Australia on the frontline of the changing face of clean energy provision here and around the world.
The Project hosted a series of community information sessions in May 2018 (including Morwell and Traralgon). Further information sessions will take place in the coming months and regular e-news bulletins and stakeholder briefings will continue throughout the HESC pilot phase
2019 is shaping up to be an important year for the clean energy revolution, with Australia moving one-step closer to becoming a world leader in hydrogen technology and export. After months of planning and work behind the scenes, the Hydrogen Energy Supply Chain (HESC) Project is set to become a reality later this year.
There has been exciting news for hydrogen outside of HESC, with Australia’s Chief Scientist Dr Alan Finkel obtaining the official government’s rubber stamp to develop a national hydrogen strategy to set the pathway to fully grasp the global hydrogen opportunity. Businesses also welcomed the bipartisanship commitment to hydrogen, exemplified by the federal opposition leader’s announcement of a $1 billion pledge for hydrogen production in Australia, touting the resource as an “emerging and exciting source of energy across the world” and calling for Australia’s “hydrogen revolution”. In Victoria, the State Government is just as positive about hydrogen’s future, with the recent announcement of the Victorian Hydrogen Investment Program (VHIP).
Driving Australia’s efforts to establish a national hydrogen industry, and with clear focus on the world’s clean energy future, the HESC Project Partners will start construction works for the new hydrogen gas production plant in the Latrobe Valley and an equally new hydrogen liquefaction plant at Hastings in mid-2019, enabling the delivery of the pilot stage of the project.
The newly designed and constructed hydrogen gas production plant located at the AGL Loy Yang Complex will produce hydrogen using gasification technologies adapted specifically for Victoria’s brown coal. Hydrogen gas will be transported to Hastings by road. The plant at Hastings will be located in an existing industrial area where hydrogen gas will be converted into liquefied hydrogen, using existing, well-proven and safe technologies. This will then allow for the transportation of liquid hydrogen to Japan, via a world-first ship carrier, thus laying the foundation for a new hydrogen export industry.
2019 will be both an exciting and busy year for the HESC Project Partners. Before construction on the new plants can begin, a key priority will be to work with local communities and secure all the approvals needed to ensure that our pilot project is delivered in full safety and respect of the environment.
The HESC Project Partners are looking forward to the continued, strong cooperation between companies, governments and research institutions, both in Japan and Australia, which will surely allow for the timely and successful commencement of the pilot phase in 2019. The future is looking bright for hydrogen and clean energy.
22 January 2019: Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has announced a $1 billion pledge for the development of an Australian hydrogen industry, identifying the resource as an “emerging and exciting source of energy across the world” and the potential for Australia to be at the forefront of the proclaimed “hydrogen revolution”.
The suggested plan highlights the prospect of job creation and supporting new businesses through Australia’s hydrogen future.
The Hydrogen Energy Supply Chain (HESC) Project Partners welcome this announcement, as a sign of bipartisanship support and a shared long-term vision for a thriving hydrogen industry. The Project Partners are benefiting from joint funding from both the Federal Coalition Government and the Victorian Labor Government to establish a world-first hydrogen supply chain from Australia to Japan. Both governments share the conviction that hydrogen will play a key role in Australia’s and Japan’s future, as demand for the clean, adaptable resource grows at a remarkable rate. HESC will commence its pilot phase operation in 2020.
“This [Australian hydrogen industry] plan marks the shared commitment in Australia’s political sphere to hydrogen, significantly enabling Australia’s clean energy future, which we are honoured to be a part of,” HESC project spokesperson Mr Yasushi Yoshino said.
“The holistic approach of the plan focussing on a spectrum of hydrogen technologies will create the right conditions for a viable, thriving Australian hydrogen industry, in which HESC will play a significant role. This vision includes the CarbonNet Project, which provides a potential carbon capture and storage (CCS) for HESC and is jointly funded by both federal and state governments as well. Clean hydrogen from coal, coupled with CCS, will be instrumental in facilitating the commercial transition to a fully renewable hydrogen future.”
The HESC Project Partners encourage the synergies between this announcement and the COAG Energy Council’s endorsement of Australia’s Chief Scientist, Dr Alan Finkel AO’s proposal for a national hydrogen strategy. This announcement, in December 2018, will see the development of a national hydrogen strategy, by the end of 2019, which will outline a pathway of development of a clean, innovative and competitive hydrogen industry that benefits all Australians.
20 December 2018: Australia’s Chief Scientist, Dr Alan Finkel AO, has released his proposal for a national hydrogen strategy, at the COAG Energy Council meeting in Adelaide.
At its meeting on 19 December 2018, the Energy Council agreed to establish a dedicated Working Group, chaired by the Chief Scientist, to lead activities that achieve this vision. The hydrogen strategy will be in place by the end of 2019.
As outlined in the proposaland associated workplan the Working Group will focus on six streams of work: hydrogen exports; hydrogen for transport; hydrogen in the gas network; hydrogen for industrial users; hydrogen to support electricity systems; and cross-cutting issues. Key priorities for the Working Group include developing a national hydrogen strategy for 2020-2030, and a co-ordinated approach to projects and programs that support industry development.
The Hydrogen Energy Supply Chain (HESC) Project Partners today welcomed this major step forward and commend the COAG Energy Council for their support of the proposal for the development of a clean, innovative and competitive hydrogen industry that benefits all Australians and is a major global player by 2030.
HESC project spokesperson, Mr Yasushi Yoshino, said: “The HESC Project Partners welcome progress on the development of a hydrogen strategy for Australia, which will identify the right policy and regulatory environment for the creation of a thriving hydrogen export and domestic industry for Australia.
“As the most advanced hydrogen export project in the country, the HESC Project will be paramount for the effective realisation of the hydrogen strategy for Australia, as well as Japan’s vision for a hydrogen society outlined in Japan’s Basic Hydrogen Strategy.
“The HESC Project is an exciting opportunity for Australia and Japan to partner for mutual benefit and to work towards creating an environmentally sustainable, low emissions solution which will put Australia at the forefront of clean energy supply here and around the world.
“We believe this proposal will encourage public and private investment, increase commercial viability, send the right signals to Australia’s trading partners and ensure social acceptance of hydrogen.
“Our HESC Project Partners, Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI), Hydrogen Engineering Australia (HEA), J-Power, J-Power Latrobe Valley (JPLV), Iwatani, Marubeni and AGL, are honoured and grateful to have established a meaningful partnership with the Japanese, Australian and Victorian Governments. HESC is a world-first project with the best potential to prove the success of a commercial scale hydrogen supply chain.”
Mr Yoshino said the Project Partners look forward to engaging with the Chief Scientist and all relevant stakeholders and bringing their hydrogen expertise to bear for the development of the best possible hydrogen strategy in Australia.
“We remain fully committed to collaborating with the Australian Governments and contribute to a world leading national hydrogen policy,” he said.
The HESC is an innovative, world-first hydrogen project. The pilot-scale project will demonstrate the viability of producing liquefied hydrogen from brown coal, in Victoria, for export to Japan. Leveraging Victoria’s Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) infrastructure will be paramount for the commercial phase to ensure emissions-free hydrogen production.
The HESC will commence construction of the small-scale pilot facilities in 2019 and the pilot phase will operate for approximately one year from 2020.
November 2018: Latrobe City Council partnered with Victoria’s Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources (DEDJTR) to host a series of briefing sessions on 8 November 2018. The briefings focused on hydrogen production and the Latrobe Valley’s competitive advantage to produce it.
The session was chaired by Bruce Connolly, Manager of Economic Development at the Latrobe City Council and featured representatives from DEDJTR, Australia’s national science agency the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) and Electric Power Development Co. Ltd. (J-Power), a Project Partner of the Hydrogen Energy Supply Chain (HESC) consortium.
Broadly, the briefings discussed growing domestic and international interest in the use of hydrogen as an alternative fuel source and the Latrobe Valley’s unique characteristics making it best placed to capitalise on this.
Dr Patrick Hartley of the CSIRO presented the National Hydrogen Roadmap, outlining the pathways to an economically sustainable hydrogen industry in Australia. Also attending were Jane Burton, Director of Coal Resources, Victoria, and Ian Filby, Project Director of the CarbonNet project.
Seiji Hongo from J-Power Latrobe Valley Pty Ltd (JPLV) on behalf of J-Power, gave a detailed presentation on how the HESC project is exploring the opportunities of hydrogen in Australia. Hongo described how the Latrobe Valley’s brown coal would be converted into hydrogen at the existing Loy Yang Power Station during the HESC project pilot phase. He also touched on CarbonNet’s development of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) in Gippsland and how this is integral to the viability of the project’s commercial phase.
J-Power/JPLV were pleased to be invited to present at the Latrobe Valley Briefing Sessions.
Dr. Patrick Hartley of the CSIRO Australia presents on Hydrogen for Australia’s Future.
Jane Burton and Ian Filby of DEDJTR make a presentation on A Competitive Advantage for Hydrogen – Victoria’s Coal Resource and the CarbonNet Project.
Seiji Hongo presents the Hydrogen Energy Supply Chain (HESC) project overview.
NOVEMBER 2018: Minister for Resources and Northern Australia, Senator the Hon. Matthew Canavan, has released a statement emphasising the findings of the World Energy Outlook (WEO) report, highlighting that Australia is in a position to take a world-leading role in the production of low-emissions hydrogen.
Minister Canavan said that Australia’s existing infrastructure and expertise in hydrogen provides a clear advantage in hydrogen production:
“Hydrogen is versatile – it can be stored and transported relatively easily, and it offers the potential for using fossil fuels with carbon capture and storage and renewable resources, in which we have a particular advantage.”
The Minister noted that Australia has the know-how and drive to develop hydrogen energy export supply chains. Notable work has been achieved by Chief Scientist Dr Alan Finkel AO on a National Hydrogen Strategy proposal to be considered by Australian and State governments later this year.
Minister Canavan noted the significant investment made by the Federal Government into Hydrogen development recently:
“Earlier this year, we invested $50 million in the world-first Hydrogen Energy Supply Chain pilot project in Victoria in partnership with the Japanese and Victorian governments and Japanese industry….
It is one of only a few global projects proving supply chain logistics from end to end; in this case, from gasification of brown coal to liquefied hydrogen delivered to Japan.”
The Minister said he is certain that projects like the Hydrogen Energy Supply Chain will help pave the way for investment in a new commercial-scale low-carbon hydrogen export industry for Australia.
November 2018: The highest level of government from Japan and Australia, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Prime Minister Scott Morrison, have again recognised the ongoing collaboration between the two nations on the world first Hydrogen Energy Supply Chain (HESC) Project.
The HESC Project was overtly acknowledged in a joint press statement, published after a meeting between the two Prime Ministers in Darwin on Friday 16 November and, once again, marking the significance that the project carries in fostering science, innovation and industry development between the two partner countries.
“The Prime Ministers welcomed the launch of the joint Hydrogen Energy Supply Chain Pilot Project this year as a significant first mover project in the development of a low-emissions hydrogen partnership.”
The HESC Project is pleased by the continued support offered by Japan and Australia’s leaders.
When Prime Minister Abe met with former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull in January 2017 and January 2018, the two leaders expressed support for hydrogen cooperation and the HESC project through a Memorandum of Cooperation on Innovation between the Commonwealth Department of Industry, Innovation and Science and the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.
In January of 2018, both leaders met in Tokyo for the annual Japan-Australia summit meeting. In a joint press statement, Prime Minister’s Abe and Turnbull further commended the ongoing collaboration under the memorandum and “looked forward to further collaboration on the HESC Project to harness this secure and low-emissions energy source.”
The HESC consortium’s Project Partners look forward to delivering the HESC pilot phase on the ground, with construction to commence mid-2019. The pilot phase will operate for one year, between 2020 and 2021.
November 2018: Hydrogen Energy Supply Chain (HESC) Project Partners are pleased to confirm that approval has been granted for a planning scheme amendment to the Mornington Peninsula Planning Scheme under the Planning and Environment Act 1987.
This amendment to the Mornington Peninsula Planning Scheme allows the use and development of highly-suitable land owned by BlueScope (and to be leased by the project) for a pilot scale hydrogen liquefaction plant and loading terminal at the Port of Hastings.
The approval marks an important step towards the demonstration of a world-first, integrated supply chain for hydrogen between Australia and Japan. The HESC Project has the potential to establish a new export and domestic industry in Australia, built around clean hydrogen and related technologies.
The amendment only relates to the pilot scale project which is likely to operate for approximately one year from 2020.
HESC in brief:
The HESC pilot supply chain includes:
The conversion of brown coal to hydrogen gas in the Latrobe Valley
The liquefaction of the gas in the Port of Hastings area
Storage and loading of the liquefied hydrogen onto a special-purpose built carrier for shipping to Japan.
The Hastings hydrogen liquefaction, storage and loading facilities will have an overall site footprint (including the wider study area and bushfire buffer zone) of around 2.5 hectares.
It will be built and operated on an existing, secure industrial port, owned by BlueScope. The site is highly-suitable for the small scale pilot, because it has existing jetty facilities and is accessible using existing road transport routes.
The pilot project will be built and operated under strict environmental regulations. Before the development can commence, a number of detailed plans and reports must satisfy the Minister for Planning to receive the required approvals.
The pilot scale hydrogen liquefaction and loading operations at Hastings do not require any dredging, or any works on water.
HESC will commence construction of the small-scale pilot facilities in 2019 and the pilot phase will operate for approximately one year from 2020.
We encourage interested community members and organisations to subscribe to the HESC e-news.
Key documents associated with the planning scheme amendment are now available online (via the Victorian State Government Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning).
