The HESC Project is hosting community drop-in sessions in Gippsland and Hastings over the coming weeks. The informal drop-in sessions are open to everyone and provides an opportunity to discuss the project with the HESC team, give feedback, ask questions and raise concerns.
Join our HESC Project team at one of the following sessions:
Morwell Mid-Valley Shopping Centre Corner of Centre Valley Road and Princes Drive, Morwell Between Woolworths and Big W Date: Tuesday, 27th April Time: 1.30PM -5.30PM
Hastings Woolworths Hastings 11-23 Victoria St, Hastings VIC 3915 Date: Wednesday, 28th April and Tuesday, 11th May Time: 2PM-6PM
Traralgon Traralgon Centre Plaza 166-188 Franklin Street Traralgon Between Kmart and Coles Date: Wednesday, 12th May Time: 2.30PM-5.30PM
Masahiko Tomioka
moved to Australia in June 2019, bringing his family and vast experience in
hydrogen gasification technologies with him.
Masahiko Tomioka. Photo copyright of HESC.
Mr Tomioka is the Chief Engineer for J-Power Latrobe Valley (J-Power LV), which recently announced commencement of hydrogen production from its coal gasification and hydrogen refining facility in the Latrobe Valley.
“The best thing
about being part of HESC is working with all the plant personnel to reach the
same goal of producing hydrogen,” Mr Tomioka said.
Mr Tomioka is
involved with planning and executing operations, maintenance and analysing the performance
of the HESC Project’s Latrobe Valley facility.
At a Japanese university, he studied catalytic reforming methodology of petroleum, including hydrogen production and earned a Master’s Degree in Applied Chemistry.
This study set him up to take on
the exciting opportunities that the emerging hydrogen economy is unlocking.
Mr Tomioka’s
first job was working in environmental management of a coal power station in
Japan, with J-Power. He reported on the CO2 emissions produced by
the station and evaluated them against government emissions reduction targets.
“Through this
work, I realised the importance of a zero-emissions future and became strongly
motivated to become involved in a hydrogen production project that can achieve
this goal,” he said.
In his second
job, Mr Tomioka gained the knowledge and experience of coal gasification he
uses today, from the J-Power Wakamatsu research institute.
His experience
working at the Institute— a centre focused on coal gasification technologies, gas
refining technology, carbon dioxide separation and capture facilities —Mr
Tomioka was captivated by HESC and requested to be assigned to the Chief
Engineer role in Australia.
Of the biggest
challenge faced while working on the HESC Project, Mr Tomioka said: “Operations
of the plant requires a lot of my experience and knowledge but when the
Victorian coal is gasified and refined from Victorian coal to hydrogen, I feel very
pleased.”
Mr Tomioka resides
in Traralgon and is fascinated by the old power station and landscape on the trip
to work each day.
Mr Tomioka not
only finds joy in his work, but in colloquialisms used by his Australian counterparts.
“I love hearing
the phrase ‘no worries’. It makes me happy every time I hear it.”
Mr Tomioka will
continue working in the Latrobe Valley for the duration of the HESC Pilot
Project and hopes to explore Australia’s beautiful nature and wildlife with his
family in his free time.
Coregas Engineer Ross Renna brings over 30 years of experience in the industrial gases industry to the Hydrogen Energy Supply Chain (HESC) Project.
Mr Renna started working
with HESC in 2019, when he set up key equipment at the Hastings and Latrobe
Valley sites. He was also involved in preparation for Coregas to handle site
operations at HESC’s hydrogen liquefaction facility – the first of its kind in
Australia.
Now working as Transition
Manager, Mr Renna still maintains oversight of each site. He
oversees the day-to-day contract
and commercial requirements for the Hydrogen Liquefaction plant at Hastings,
where he is based. At the same time, he provides technical support for
operations.
He also brings a wealth of
safety experience to the HESC Project, previously working in Major Hazard
Facilities such as chemical and petrochemical plants.
No two days are the same
when working on the HESC Project, but he describes his work as exciting and
challenging.
“In
a day, I could be working through a plant risk assessment, reviewing
operational procedures for the ship transfer of the liquid hydrogen, and also
working through commercial invoicing,” Mr Renna said.
Having
worked for years in the gases industry, Mr Renna has heard a lot of talk about
hydrogen being the fuel of the future. He shared his enthusiasm at being part
of a project that brings this talk to fruition.
“For
me, it’s about being involved in a very exciting project which could have a
major impact in decarbonising industry and society,” he said.
“It
feels like everywhere you look hydrogen is being discussed and Australia is
starting to do its share in developing new hydrogen projects. This is
really exciting for the future of hydrogen, especially for Australia.”
Mr
Renna shared that there is a lot of potential for people with experience
working in Major Hazard Facilities to apply their skills and knowledge to the
emerging hydrogen industry.
“Skills
and experience from Major Hazard Facility sites, such as operational safety
controls, safe work practices and risk assessment development methodologies can
be transferred to projects like HESC, and other emerging hydrogen projects in
Australia.”
Reflecting on his two proudest moments so far working on the HESC Project, Mr Renna shared that one of the moments is when Coregas took operational management of the site from Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI) to operate and maintain the liquefaction site at Hastings.
“There
has been a lot of great work from the Hastings team and many other Coregas team
members behind the scenes as well.”
“My second
proudest moment is the first-time liquid hydrogen was produced from the plant
and filled into the liquid hydrogen site container.”
With the HESC Project in its pilot phase, Mr Renna shares many of the challenges he and the team from KHI and Iwatani Corporation are working to overcome. A key challenge is around transferring liquid hydrogen from the Hastings site, onto the Suiso Frontier, when it arrives.
“At present, our focus is planning the
important phase of performing the liquid hydrogen ship transfer. I believe a
great working relationship has now been established with Coregas, KHI and
Iwatani” he said.
Mr
Renna will continue his important role while working on the HESC Project and
looks forward to seeing it in a commercial phase.
About
Coregas
Coregas
is one of the largest hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen and argon producers in
Australia, has been an integral part of the HESC project. The company is
providing engineering consultancy, onsite support and equipment for the
gasification plant at Loy Yang in the Latrobe Valley and the Australian first
liquefaction and loading facility at Port of Hastings.
For HESC Project Partner, Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI), liquefied hydrogen has long been the fuel of choice for its rockets. The company’s Tanegashima Space Centre is home to Japan’s largest liquefied hydrogen storage tank.
Mr Hiroto Sato, a member of Cryogenic Storage System Department, Cryogenic Storage System Engineering Division, Plant & Infrastructure Company
A similarly designed tank has been replicated for the HESC Project and is being used to store liquefied hydrogen at the Hastings liquefaction and loading terminal and the Kobe port-side storage facility.
Hydrogen
is a fuel for the future, but for many years the challenges associated with its
storage saw it overlooked.
Hydrogen is a bulky gas, requiring more space for storage than conventional natural gas. To decrease storage capacity and for ease of transportation, hydrogen can be stored in liquid form. This reduces the hydrogen to 1/800 of its original size. However, when liquefied hydrogen is poured into a conventional tank, it can rapidly heat up, causing evaporation and loss.
Hiroto
Sato works in KHI’s Cryogenic Storage System Engineering Department and
explains how the company overcame this obstacle.
“In order to keep the hydrogen in its liquefied state, we needed a method to ensure a storage temperature of -253°C, which is extremely low,” said Mr Sato.
“Given the large mass of liquefied hydrogen, permanent cooling was not an option because of the huge running costs involved.
“This
is why we designed a cooling structure similar to a colossal thermos, so to
speak.”
Mr Hiroto Sato, a member of Cryogenic Storage System Department, Cryogenic Storage System Engineering Division, Plant & Infrastructure Company
Rather than cool the hydrogen, the design of the tank prevents any possible rise in temperature as soon as the liquefied hydrogen is loaded inside.
This
is achieved by a double-hull. The gap between the two hulls is filled with
perlite, which is used for insulation, and the resulting design creates a system
that allows for effective storage.
In
addition, the tank had to be designed to suppress any kind of heat conduction,
minimising any surface area where thermal transfer could occur.
The
results speak for themselves.
“This liquefied hydrogen tank was built in 1987 and has been in operation ever since. To date, we have found no sign of deterioration in its cold insulation performance,” Sato said.
The
nature of the storage technology means that the tank can be used to store clean
hydrogen from any source – including Australia.
The Noble Tom Prosser Drilling Rig off Golden Beach, Victoria.
The results are in for studies of rock core extracted from
Pelican, the first CarbonNet storage site located in the Gippsland Basin.
The Pelican site has received top marks from industry
experts with data proving the site has excellent geology for CO2 storage,
providing a safe carbon capture and storage (CCS) solution in Gippsland.
Results from testing align with expectations the site is large enough to store at least five million tonnes of CO2 per year for 25 years. That’s the equivalent of annual CO2 emissions from around one million petrol cars.
In thickness, distribution, and quality, all rock layers
were found to be as predicted by the CarbonNet team, down to 99% accuracy.
More than 100 crew worked daily, in shifts, for eight weeks
on the Noble Tom Prosser drilling rig over 2019 and 2020 to create the
appraisal well and extract the core for analysis.
The CarbonNet team is now updating 3D models of the site
using information from the lab. The project will also soon release a report on
the jobs that could be created by CarbonNet and CCS enabled industries across
Latrobe City and Wellington Shire Councils.
On Friday the 12th of March, Hydrogen Energy Supply Chain (HESC) Project Partners held a celebration to mark the commencement of operations at both Victorian sites of the Pilot Project.
Over 70
guests, including the Australian, Victorian, and Japanese Governments, media,
travelled to Traralgon on the sunny morning to celebrate the project milestone.
The day began with live crosses to ABC News Breakfast around the country, where Jeremy Stone, Non-Executive Director of J-Power Latrobe Valley, gave journalist Madeleine Morris a tour of the HESC gasification site and explained HESC’s hydrogen development process.
Later in the
morning Jane Oakley, CEO of Committee for Gippsland, spoke to Madeleine about
the region’s hydrogen future.
Throughout the event, key speeches were given by: The Hon. Angus Taylor, Minister for Energy Reduction Emissions; Mr Shingo Yamagami; Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan in Australia; The Hon. Darren Chester, Minister for Defence Personnel; Mr Tim Pallas, Treasurer of Victoria; and Dr Alan Finkel, Australian Government Hydrogen Advisor as well as other distinguished guests and project partners.
Mr Yamagami
welcomed guests to the event and commented on the beauty of the day saying, “I
think this weather is auspicious of things to come.”
The celebration
culminated in a ribbon-cutting led by Shinichi Sakuno, Managing Director
of J-Power Latrobe Valley and Hirofumi
Kawazoe, General Manager of Hydrogen Engineering Australia (representatives
of both Australian project sites).
Due to
COVID-19, Japanese representatives were not able to join the physical event,
but over 55 viewers from Japan joined via live stream.
By the end
of the day, news about the HESC Project’s success had reached half a billion
people, globally.
Over the
coming months, operations at each of the Latrobe Valley and Hasting’s sites
will continue and the pilot will yield data and insights that
feed into the pathway to commercialisation. Liquefied hydrogen will be stored in Hastings
until shipments commence this year.
Latrobe Valley, Victoria: The Hydrogen Energy Supply Chain (HESC) Pilot Project today announced the commencement of operations at both Victorian sites of its world-first integrated supply chain.
HESC Project Partners, together with the Australian, Victorian, and Japanese Governments and distinguished guests today marked both milestones at the gasification and gas refining facility in the Latrobe Valley.
The HESC Pilot is developing a complete hydrogen supply chain, creating hydrogen gas via the gasification of Latrobe Valley coal, transport to the Port of Hastings for liquefaction, and shipment to Japan.
The commencement of the Australian arm of operations, using Latrobe Valley coal to produce hydrogen, is a world first and a great leap forward for the country’s ambition to be a key player in the emerging global hydrogen economy.
The HESC Pilot is being delivered by a consortium of experienced industry partners from Japan and Australia including Kawasaki Heavy Industries, J-POWER, Iwatani Corporation, Marubeni Corporation, AGL and Sumitomo Corporation, supported by the Victorian, Australian and Japanese Governments.
Hirofumi Kawazoe, from Hydrogen Engineering Australia (Kawasaki’s subsidiary company based in Melbourne), said the progress of the HESC Pilot places Victoria and Australia at the forefront of the global energy transition to lower emissions via the fuel of the future, clean hydrogen. “The next major HESC Pilot development will be the first shipment of hydrogen between Australia and Japan, aboard the world’s first purpose-built liquefied hydrogen carrier, the Suiso Frontier. The eyes of the world will be on Victoria, when shipments of liquefied hydrogen commence in 2021,” Mr Kawazoe said.
The HESC Pilot is proving it is possible to take Latrobe Valley coal and safely produce and transport hydrogen. It is yielding data and insights that feed into the pathway to commercialisation.
Jeremy Stone from J-POWER Latrobe Valley said the HESC Pilot has created approximately 400 jobs across the Victorian supply chain.
“A commercial-scale HESC can leverage and build local skills, potentially creating thousands of jobs. This will include long-term employment in a new clean energy industry for the people of Gippsland,” Mr Stone said.
“Latrobe Valley has a proud history powering Australia and today we celebrate the next generation of energy technology in the region.”
The Victorian and Commonwealth Governments’ CarbonNet Project is developing in parallel with HESC and is essential for the hydrogen pilot’s commercialisation. If both projects are commercialised, CO2 captured during hydrogen production would be transported and stored by CarbonNet using carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology. Rather than entering the atmosphere, CO2 emissions will be safely stored in rocks 1.5 kilometres beneath Bass Strait, similar to the way oil and gas has been trapped naturally for millions of years.
A commercial-scale HESC project could produce 225,000 tonnes of clean hydrogen annually with carbon capture and storage.
“We estimate our project could reduce CO2 emissions by 1.8 million tonnes per year, equivalent to the emissions of some 350,000 petrol cars, Mr Stone said.
The Victorian Government says the project has the potential to provide clean hydrogen with domestic use-cases, as well as kick-start the emergence of a new, global export industry with huge local economic benefits. The HESC Project will also help develop the infrastructure and highly skilled workers that are crucial ingredients for the emergence of an Australian hydrogen industry.
The HESC consortium thanked its staff and contractors in both the Latrobe Valley and Hastings for their work to date, including overcoming the many challenges COVID-19 presents.
“Without the support of the local communities, the Victorian, Australian and Japanese Governments, this project would not be possible,” Mr Kawazoe said.
HESC Project Partners are
proud to announce that hydrogen gas is successfully being produced from Latrobe
Valley coal as part of the world-first Hydrogen Supply Chain Pilot Project
This is a crucial project
milestone as it means hydrogen gas can soon be transported by truck to an
Australian first liquefaction and loading terminal at the Port of Hastings,
where the hydrogen gas will be liquefied and stored. Following this process,
the liquid hydrogen will be transported by a specially designed hydrogen marine
carrier ship to Kobe, Japan.
This milestone is a step
closer to achieving a global energy transition to lower emissions via using hydrogen
as a fuel — the fuel of the future.
The pilot project is delivered by
experienced Japanese and Australian industry
partners
and supported by the Victorian,
Australian and Japanese Governments.
Coregas, one of the largest hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen and argon producers in Australia, has been an integral part of the HESC project. The company is providing engineering consultancy, onsite support and equipment for the gasification plant at Loy Yang in the Latrobe Valley and the Australian first liquefaction and loading facility at Port of Hastings.
Paul Vandenbrink – Coregas Site Manager in Hastings. Copyright of HESC.
Paul Vandenbrink
has a wealth of experience in the steel production and gas industries. In his
new venture, working as a Site Manager in Hastings, he says, “It’s fantastic to
see growing momentum for a hydrogen industry in Victoria and Australia. I’m
excited to be part of this world-first project”.
Mr Vandenbrink
relocated from NSW six months ago and has settled in Mornington, which is close
to Hastings.
“Coregas is proud to be involved in such an environmentally significant project like HESC and it’s exciting to step forward in the hydrogen energy industry as it is a demonstration of potential for a whole new export market and pathway to renewable energies” he said.
Coregas has been involved in
the FEED (Front End Engineering Design) for the liquefaction plant in Hastings
and has provided support for the detailed design of the plant. Further to this,
Coregas is providing all the utility and specialised calibration gases to both
facilities, the hydrogen compressor for the gasification plant and
transportation services to move both liquefied and gaseous hydrogen.
A Coregas team
of 12 is providing experienced engineering and maintenance support to run and
maintain the liquefaction and loading facility in Hastings. The team belong to
a company experienced at working with hydrogen – running the largest hydrogen
merchant plant at Bluescope Steel’s Port Kembla steelworks.
Using this experience, Coregas’s expertise in the production and handling of hydrogen will be vital in the safe and efficient operation of the Hastings plant, as well as assisting with the loading of the world’s first liquid hydrogen carrier ship, the Suiso Frontier, when it arrives at the Port of Hastings this year. Coregas will also provide technical support at the Latrobe Valley site once operational.
When asked
about the most interesting piece of equipment being used at the Hastings site,
Paul spoke of the hydrogen liquefier, which has high-speed turbines, heat
exchange and compression and expansion to create extremely cold temperatures of
-253 degrees Celsius.
Working on the
project during COVID-19 hasn’t been without its challenges. COVID restrictions
meant a 25% restriction of the number of people on-site, work and travel
permits needing approval and deep cleans being required at the sites.
Furthermore, the lack of toilet paper, hand sanitiser and masks presented more
of a challenge. Nonetheless, Coregas implemented a COVIDSafe plan and
successfully maintained operations during the tough period.
When asked about working with HESC project partner Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI), Mr Vandenbrink said, “It has been an honour to work with the reputable team at KHI. We have been able to learn a lot about each other’s culture and together we have collaborated to deliver this fantastic initiative”.
Note on the hydrogen liquefier: The hydrogen liquefier works by pressurised hydrogen gas being fed into a vacuum-insulated cold box and getting pre-cooled with liquid nitrogen. Pre-cooled hydrogen gas is heat-exchanged with liquefied helium, which is produced from helium refrigeration cycle, then it is turned into liquid and transferred to an LH2 container.
CCS Storage Overview. Copyright of Global Carbon Capture and Storage Institute.
Global participation in carbon capture and storage (CCS) is increasing in the effort to reach net-zero emissions by 2050, according to a new report from the Global CCS Institute (GCCSI), the Global Status of CCS Report 2020.
The report found the total capacity of CCS facilities operating and under development has grown by 33% worldwide over the last year alone. There are a total of 65 commercial CCS facilities in various stages of development globally.
However, the report warned, “deployment of the technology is not happening quick enough to reach 2050 climate goals. CCS facilities will need to increase by more than a hundredfold by mid-century, as but one part of how the world will reach carbon neutrality.”
The report highlighted that CCS can enable the production of low-carbon hydrogen at scale, particularly in regions where large amounts of affordable renewable electricity from hydrogen-producing electrolysis is not available and fossil fuel prices are low.
When it comes to this type of hydrogen production, Victoria has a significant competitive advantage due to its abundant, world-class coal resources and world-leading potential for CCS (via the CarbonNet Project), all within the Gippsland region.
ASEAN nations partner on CCUS
technologies
NikkeiAsia is reporting that Japan, Australia, the United States of America and 10 members of ASEAN are partnering to commercialise technology making carbon capture utilisation and storage (CCUS) possible.
Carbon
captured can be used as a feedstock to create new materials such as CO2
infused concrete and various industrial chemicals, creating new ways of storing
carbon dioxide.
The
ASEAN partnership will create ways to bury and reuse carbon dioxide in
Southeast Asia to reduce CO2 emissions produced from energy
infrastructure and industries.
The
partnership is to be initiated in early 2021, after first being discussed among
the member countries at East Asia Summit’s Energy Ministerial meeting in
November.
CarbonNet Project update
The CO2CRC is CarbonNet’s lead research
partner. Read more about how the CarbonNet Project provides a suitable CCS solution for a commercial HESC
Project.
The CO2CRC’s Otway Storage Demonstration Project is getting ready to commence its Stage 3 CO2 injection activities. From November 2020 to April 2021, a total of 15,000 tonnes of CO2-rich gas will be injected into the subsurface beneath the Otway National Research Facility.
According to CarbonNet, successful
application of these monitoring techniques is likely to translate into lower
costs, higher quality of data and a smaller environmental footprint for CCS.
100% Gippsland owned company O&M has been working with J-Power Latrobe Valley to put 70 locals on the job during the construction phase of the Latrobe Valley coal gasification and refining facility.
Established in
2013 and based in Morwell, the company employs over 150 people from the
Gippsland region, which sometimes expands to 250 people when undertaking large
projects and plant outages.
The company specialises in delivering electrical and maintenance services to the power, water, oil, gas and mining industries. The hydrogen industry has been an exciting new venture for the team.
O&M has
been responsible for the full electrical and instrumentation scope for the
construction of the Latrobe Valley site, working as an integral part of the plant
team, including collaborating with Japanese partners from J-Power, engineering
design consultants and the mechanical and structural builders of the site.
O&M has a
pool of personnel that are qualified for working in the hydrogen industry. Their
team have extensive cross-industry experience in large industrial environments
such as the power, mining, water, oil and gas, pulp and paper sectors and in
roles such as trades, plant operators, maintenance, supervisors and managers.
Those with experience
from the mining industry are well versed in handling, conveying and processing
large volumes of raw materials and operating, controlling and maintaining of
the associated plant systems.
“We have up to
eight staff that have worked on the systems, process and documentation
development in the period leading up to operations and assisted with plant
commissioning and process refinement. This team will transition to full-time
Operators and Maintainers for the full operating phase of the pilot project”
said Ian Green, O&M Business Manager.
The company is especially proud of the support and engagement they offer through its apprentice program, with six apprentices currently working for them. Two O&M HESC Project apprentices, Jay Murphy and Ashley Withell, shared their enthusiasm for working on the pilot project and the skills it is giving them to work in a new industry.
O&M staff
enjoy working on the HESC Project as they are playing an integral part in
emerging clean energy technology that will change the energy industry and lead to
positive change in managing climate change.
The company
sees great potential for the Gippsland region to become a new hydrogen energy
hub and is confident the project will demonstrate the ability of the Gippsland
region to support such projects through the provision of infrastructure, a technical
and skilled workforce along with ready access to services and utilities.
Mr Green said,
“The rich resources in the region can support new energy industries and the availability
of locations for large project sites close to infrastructure, services and
utilities required also makes the regional an optimal place for emerging
industries.”
O&M look
forward to the HESC Pilot Project succeeding and seeing what the commercial-scale
opportunities will bring to Gippsland, including a large boost to employment
and the local economy.
Nikola Hydrogen Truck. Copyright of Nikola Motors.
20% of all global emissions come from transport – cars, planes, trains, ships, trains and buses. The International Energy Agency predicts emissions will continue to increase unless there is a rapid shift away from using fossil fuels to power transport vehicles and new technology and cleaner fuels are adopted, quickly.
Hydrogen is a
clean gas that produces only water as an emission when used as fuel for cars or
heavy transport.
To reach
emission reduction targets, it has been identified that a combination of
plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs), and
Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles (FCEVs) will be required to reduce transport
emissions. FCEVs are often powered by
hydrogen gas.
Batteries for
electric vehicles are necessarily heavy, which reduces the freight load
available to heavy vehicles. Fuel cells, powered by hydrogen gas, are much
lighter giving vehicles greater range and carrying capacity.
The Hydrogen Council predicts that by 2050, hydrogen could power a global fleet of more than 400 million cars, 15 to 20 million trucks, and around 5 million buses, which constitute on average 20% to 25% of existing vehicle numbers. Hydrogen could also replace 5% of the world’s fuel supply to airplanes and freight ships by 2050.
The good news
is that hydrogen transport technology is already on the road to becoming the
fuel of the future.
Three models of FCEVs are already offered commercially in Japan, South Korea, California, and Germany and the Hydrogen Council predicts FCEV cars could make up 3% of new vehicle sales in 2030.
Buses
FCEV buses will be able to go longer distances, operate with fewer interruptions and only exhaust water, compared to current models.
An Australian consortium by the name of H2OzBus Project aims to deploy 100 hydrogen-powered bus’ into Australia’s public transport network, with the long-term intention of a worldwide roll-out.
Rail engineering company Altsom has developed a commercial hydrogen-powered train, which was tested in Germany for 18 months, and is to now be run across Austria’s rail network.
The Austrian
national rail operator is considering replacing diesel trains with the new
hydrogen-powered design.
Alstom has also
sold 41 hydrogen-powered trains to German operators and has begun work on the
first hydrogen train refuelling station in Germany.
Hydrogen is
advantageous for vehicles like trucks with long-range, mileage and payloads.
Where 300km or more is being travelled, FCEV’s become less expensive to use
than BEV’s.
Trucks for
heavy and long-haul segments are expected to be commercially available within
the next five years thanks to brands such as Toyota, Hyundai and Nikola Motors.
The fuel of the
future
Hydrogen
technology in combination with other low emission technologies plays a
significant role in reducing global CO2 emissions and reaching global climate
goals.
There is currently tremendous hydrogen innovation and the world is talking about hydrogen potential. HESC Project Partners acknowledge that our common challenge is climate change and believes action is needed now. All forms of clean hydrogen can aid in transport decarbonisation.
More than 180 people tuned into the November 2020 HESC Project webinar.
Dr Patrick Hartley – Leader of CSIRO’s Hydrogen Industry Mission kicked off the presentation, outlining how hydrogen is critical for decarbonising industries; reducing global CO2 emissions; job creation; and creating new industries.
Dr Hartley said Australia’s availability of abundant resources,
including Latrobe Valley coal and nearby carbon storage potential, gives the country
potential to be a global hydrogen leader.
Why now? Key drivers around global decarbonisation, like the
Paris Climate Agreement, now exist.
Also, the technology used to produce hydrogen is maturing to the
point of commercial viability–creating a market both on the demand and supply
side.
Speaking about the National Hydrogen Strategy, Dr Hartley said, “The strategy is an unprecedented agreement by all Governments—Federal, State and Territory. To pursue this industry development, it will be significant as we move forward because it is very much going to take a team Australia effort to get this industry going”.
Jeremy Stone – Non-Executive Director of J-Power Latrobe Valley explained that the HESC Pilot Project will ‘prove-up’ an international hydrogen from Latrobe Valley coal supply chain.
Mr Stone shared three major reasons the project partners aim to
produce commercial quantities of hydrogen from Latrobe Valley coal with Carbon
Capture and Storage (CCS)—urgency, scalability and affordability.
Mr Stone said the infrastructure created by the HESC Project to transport, liquefy, store and ship hydrogen is the same infrastructure renewable hydrogen projects will need.
He
also discussed how the highly skilled workers it will create shall be job-ready
for the future energy sector. In the pilot, approximately 150 direct jobs were
created for the construction phase at the Latrobe Valley site, while 10 are operating
the facility.
Hirofumi Kawazoe – General Manager of Hydrogen Engineering Australia provided an update on the Hastings site, where commissioning is now complete. Coregas now operate and maintain the site on a 24/7 shift basis.
Mr Kawazoe explained how hydrogen gas received from the Latrobe Valley will be liquefied and cooled to -253 degrees Celsius at the Hastings site—reducing the gas to 1/800th of its volume, making transport of hydrogen on the Suiso Frontier more efficient.
He shared that project partner, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, leant
on 25 years of technology development to build the cryogenic hydrogen storage tank.
Around 60 jobs were created during construction of the Hastings
site and 15 employees are operating the facility.
Ian Filby – Project Director of the CarbonNet project explained the focus on CCS in Gippsland, which has world-leading potential because of its CO2 storage capacity.
The existing highly skilled workforce is advantageous, and
CarbonNet can support businesses in Gippsland that transition to new
industries.
“Why are we doing this? Well, it’s all about climate change. We
know from the science of climate change from the Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change, and other world-leading organizations that CCS is fundamental
to reaching our goal of net-zero emissions and the agreements reached in Paris,”
said Mr Filby.
“We know that CCS is necessary for climate change, we know that
it’s cost-effective, and we know that it works because it’s been operating for
close to 50 years in different places around the world.”
According to most recent data from the Global CCS Institute, there are now 58 CCS facilities in various stages of development globally. These include 20 in operation, three under construction, and 35 in various stages of development with an estimated combined capture capacity of 127 million tonnes of CO2 per annum.
Finally, Jane Oakley – Chief Executive Officer of Committee for Gippsland discussed what clean energy projects could mean for the future of Gippsland.
Ms Oakley said the priority for Gippsland is to secure itself as
a clean energy powerhouse. The Committee will continue to work with regional
stakeholders, government and community members to lead the transition to a
clean energy future.
“HESC presents a significant advantage for us here in Gippsland.
It offers proven technology and an established supply chain, which puts us in a
really strong position and provides a foundation in leading innovative hydrogen
production and opening up new opportunities for cleaner technologies,“ Ms
Oakley said.
“Also, we need to leverage existing assets and capability.
Imagine the economic loss in allowing the region’s power lines, pipelines, and
easements to become stranded given the potential of Gippsland to produce
renewable and low emissions electricity and hydrogen.”
Concluding the session, Dr Hartley said, “This is a
very important project globally. Demonstrating this supply chain is not
something that’s happening in many countries at all. So, I think the region and
Australia should be very proud to be hosting this demonstration. It’s very,
very significant”.
Mr Stone concluded, “We’re available and we’re accessible and we
want to hear from Gippsland people about their visions, their aims and their
concerns.”
HESC held a webinar on the 25th of November,2020 to discuss how the Latrobe Valley can be at the forefront of the national energy transition to lower emissions via clean hydrogen. A wrap-up of the event can be read here.
Panellists included:
Dr Patrick Hartley, Leader of CSIRO’s Hydrogen Mission
Jeremy Stone, Non-Executive Director of J-Power Latrobe Valley
Ian Filby, Project Director of the CarbonNet Project
Hirofumi Kawazoe, General Manager of Hydrogen Engineering Australia Pty Ltd
Jane Oakley, Chief Executive Officer of Committee for Gippsland
Q&A
Is there a risk that a commercial project becomes commercially and socially stranded by 2030 if the cost of renewable hydrogen comes down as predicted?
We encourage all forms of clean hydrogen production because it is a
central pillar of the energy transformation required to limit global warming.
Urgency: However, as the consequences of
climate change are tied to the cumulative emissions in the atmosphere, every
year of delay adds to our problem.
Price: Additionally, the practical reality is that hydrogen made from fossil fuel with Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) costs 2-3 times less than hydrogen from renewables. While parity may be achieved as soon as 2030, we believe action must be taken between now and then to reduce CO2 emissions.
Scale: Scaling up production of clean hydrogen from coal with CCS is considered comparatively simple compared to renewable methods because the technology has been in use for decades – globally there are five low-carbon hydrogen production facilities with CCS in operation[1].
Rapid scale is deemed necessary to meet projected hydrogen demand and reach net zero emissions by 2050[2]. A commercial-scale HESC Project could operate 24/7 and would produce up to 225,000 tonnes of hydrogen per year in the 2030s, as referred to by the Japanese New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organisation (NEDO) in 2015.
We believe that all forms of clean hydrogen are needed to meet demand
and address climate change.
Why Latrobe Valley coal over any other type of coal?
The HESC Project will create a sustainable solution for the use of
abundant Latrobe Valley coal reserves that will lower global carbon emissions.
Latrobe Valley coal has been identified as one of the most
cost-effective, stable and efficient sources for the creation of hydrogen with
significant production efficiencies when compared with other sources.
Producing clean hydrogen using a fossil fuel with carbon capture and
storage (CCS), CCS is presently, as
assessed by the International Energy Agency (IEA), the most
economical way to produce clean hydrogen at scale.
When it comes to this type of hydrogen production, Victoria has a significant competitive advantage. This is due not only to the coal resources but also due to its world-leading potential for CCS, all within the Gippsland region. With ten years of development behind it and successful testing to date, CarbonNet presents an affordable CCS solution for the HESC commercial phase.
What is Australia’s advantage over other countries
for exporting hydrogen?
The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), in a report released in August 2018 entitled Opportunities for Australia from hydrogen exports, examined Australia’s competitive position relative to other potential suppliers of hydrogen for export.
Regarding potential exports of hydrogen to China, Japan, Republic of Korea and Singapore, it found Australia
is in a relatively good competitive position due to factors such as:
The landed cost of hydrogen
Proximity to the market
Having well-established energy trading relationships – for example, Australia and Japan have an important economic relationship and the HESC project will further strengthen the enduring trade and investment ties between Australia and Japan.
Experience in large scale energy infrastructure construction
An ability to supply low or zero-carbon hydrogen from a range of sources.
What will be the cost of hydrogen produced in a
commercial HESC Project?
One purpose of the HESC Pilot is to conduct an analysis of the economic
feasibility of producing hydrogen gas from coal in the Latrobe Valley,
liquefying it and exporting it to Japan.
According to 2019 data from the IEA, hydrogen made from fossil fuel with
CCS costs significantly less than hydrogen from renewables – USD $1.20 –2.60/kg,
compared to USD $3.20-7.70.
HESC Project Partners are confident they can deliver cost-competitive
hydrogen.
Will hydrogen trucks carry liquid hydrogen from the
Latrobe Valley to Port of Hastings or will a new hydrogen pipeline be required
to export hydrogen to Japan?
In the HESC pilot, the gaseous hydrogen will be transported from the
Latrobe Valley to the Port of Hastings by pressurised tube trailer, with one
trip expected each month for a period of three months. The
hydrogen gas is liquefied and then loaded on to a specially designed marine
carrier for shipment to Japan.
A commercial-scale project will require a hydrogen
pipeline from the point of production to the port (location to be confirmed).
Is the HESC project committed to using liquid
hydrogen or are other options, such as ammonia or LOHCs, on the table as well?
The
HESC Pilot is focused on liquid hydrogen to prove its technical and commercial
feasibility as a hydrogen carrier. The reason why the HESC Project uses liquid
hydrogen as a hydrogen carrier is that it reduces the volume dramatically
(1/800th) which is ideal for mass transport and storage.
Liquefied
hydrogen does not need to be converted back to hydrogen (if ammonia or LOHC is
used as a carrier, it is necessary to convert them back to hydrogen). There are
some additional challenges with ammonia carrying methods that mean that in some
areas this methodology is not preferable.
How much hydrogen does the tank on the ship hold?
The liquid hydrogen tank on the Suiso Frontier has a capacity of 1,250m3.
What is the HESC Projects future in terms of commercialisation?
The pilot phase will need to be completed and the results reviewed
before detailed planning for the commercial phase can take place. The HESC
partners will consider in detail the economics, engineering, environment, and
community. If the pilot phase is successful, the HESC project is currently
planned to enter its commercial phase in the 2030s.
What is the percentage of the emissions that can be
captured for this project?
In a commercial HESC Project, a target of 90% of CO2
emissions from the gasification and refining process will be captured.
Has there been incident management planning
conducted to ensure any potential hydrogen leaks, fires or explosions are
quickly mitigated? If yes, will these be made available?
Pure hydrogen gas is not toxic and cannot ignite or
explode spontaneously. An ignition source and oxidizer (like oxygen) must be
present. When handled responsibly and safely, hydrogen is no more or less
dangerous than other flammable fuels like natural gas and gasoline.
Measures have been put in place along all stages of
the supply chain to prevent, detect and mitigate the risk of hydrogen leaks.
These are in accordance with government standards for portable gases and fuels.
Additional measures will be used to safely store liquid hydrogen which must be
kept at extremely low temperatures, including the development of purpose-built
ships for overseas transport.
The HESC project aligns with relevant Australian
Standards. Hydrogen production
facilities have been operating in Australia for many years. Furthermore, HESC Project
Partners have conducted various risk assessment processes including HAZID
(Hazard Identification Process) and HAZOP (Hazard Operability Study) and have
installed necessary equipment such as a hydrogen leak detector and a ventilation
system. Partners also have contacted local authorities such as the CFA (Country
Fire Authority) to share the outcome of a safety study, request a review and obtain
their approval.
What percentage of CO2-e produced,
including transport, liquefaction and re-gasification will be stored in CCS?
In a commercial HESC Project, a target of 90% of CO2
emissions from the gasification and refining process will be captured.While CCS will be a key aspect of a commercial-scale phase, CCS will not
feature during the pilot project due to the small volumes of CO2 involved.
During the pilot phase, the hydrogen gasification process will create a small
amount of CO2 – equivalent to annual emissions from about 28 cars. Carbon
offset measures have been arranged.
Does the strength of unions in the valley hinder
future investment decisions in the region?
Further investment in HESC will be informed by technical feasibility, social licence to operate, market demand and other macroeconomic factors. HESC Project Partners are committed to working cooperatively with all stakeholders to support jobs and economic growth in Gippsland. We believe that many local stakeholders share our view that producing clean hydrogen with coal provides a viable pathway for the Valley’s energy workers looking to transition to a new industry – the CFMEU recently wrote an article on this topic.
For HESC, is there a hydrogen purity target for
Australia to meet export requirements?
We are targeting 99.999% purity.
How many tonnes of CO2 is generated (and
captured) when producing 225,000 tonnes of hydrogen?
The purpose of the HESC Pilot Project is to understand expected CO2
generation. CSIRO data states that coal gasification with CCS produces around
0.71 tonne of CO2 per tonne of hydrogen[3]. HESC
will refine the CO2 generation it expects in a commercial phase after the
pilot. In a commercial HESC Project, a target of 90% of CO2
emissions from the gasification and refining process will be captured.
When factoring in transport, liquefaction and re-gasification, what percentage of CO2-e is saved compared to burning brown coal in existing Latrobe Valley Power stations?
Hydrogen is a central pillar of the energy transformation required to
limit global warming. Hydrogen can play a role in this transformation in more
ways than one, while power generation is the core outputs of today’s coal-fired
power stations provide
Australia’s National Hydrogen Strategy contains insightful calculations on the CO2-e avoided if hydrogen is used as a fuel across several use cases. CO2-e is a carbon dioxide equivalent, a metric used to compare the emissions from various greenhouse gases to determine their individual and total contributions to global warming.
The strategy states that replacing Australian grid electricity with electricity from hydrogen avoids 15kg CO2-e per kilogram of hydrogen used. See page 17 of the strategy for further examples.
HESC endeavours to calculate this percentage of CO2-e saved in the future.
The focus seems to be on export, but if you get to
full commercialisation could there be a split to some domestic supply, i.e.
dual supply?
The HESC Project was conceived with the primary aim
of producing hydrogen in Australia for export and use in Japan. Interest in
hydrogen has since grown both internationally and domestically, as industry and
governments around the world investigate and execute decarbonisation
strategies. HESC Project Partners are supportive of the export of hydrogen,
domestic use, or a combination.
Is your gasification process effectively zero
emissions?
The gasification of coal to make hydrogen
produces CO2. For this reason, a commercial HESC Project is
contingent on being able to capture and safely store this CO2. The
nearby CarbonNet Project provides a suitable CCS site. While CCS will be a key
aspect of a commercial-scale phase, CCS will not feature during the pilot
project due to the small volumes of CO2 involved. During the pilot
phase, the hydrogen gasification process will create a small amount of CO2
– equivalent to annual emissions from about 28 cars. Carbon offset measures
have been purchased.
In a commercial HESC Project, a target of 90% of CO2
emissions from the gasification and refining process will be captured.
Does the CO2 reduction estimate include
the fossil fuel used to liquify the gas at Hastings?
A commercial-scale HESC Project could produce up to
225,000 tonnes of hydrogen per year in the 2030s, as
referred to by NEDO (the Japanese New Energy and Industrial Technology
Development Organisation) in 2015. We estimate this could reduce global
CO2 emissions by 1.8 million tonnes per year, equivalent to taking
350,000 cars off the road.
This estimation has been calculated as follows: Most of the hydrogen produced today is via steam methane reforming (SMR) with no CCS. Data in Australia’s National Hydrogen Strategy reports that this produces around 8.5 tonne[4] of CO2 per tonne of hydrogen. CSIRO data states that coal gasification with CCS produces around 0.71 tonnes of CO2 per tonne of hydrogen [5]. Therefore, the HESC Project could save 1.8 million tonnes of CO2 per year (8.5-.71*225,000). [5] Internal CSIRO calculation on lifecycle emissions for coal gasification with CCS: Bruce, S, Temminghoff, M, Hayward, J, Schmidt, E, Munnings, C, Palfreyman, D & Hartley, P 2018, National hydrogen roadmap, CSIRO, p67
What’s the energy source for maintaining the hydrogen
in liquid form during shipping to Japan? Will hydrogen be lost in the journey
if it is the energy source?
The marine carrier will use cryogenic storage tanks,
which feature double-shell structure with vacuum insulation, to contain the
liquefied hydrogen and keep it at a very low temperature. No energy source is
needed.
One of the key elements of transporting liquefied
hydrogen is preventing heat from turning the liquid hydrogen back into a gas.
This is known as ‘boil off gas’. Kawasaki Heavy
Industries (KHI) is developing specialised insulation technology to respond to
this challenge.
Is there any other international market other than
Japan?
In a recent joint media release from Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment Simon Birmingham and the Minister for Resources, Water and Northern Australia Keith Pitt, Australia was positioned ‘as a future hydrogen export powerhouse.’ The release announced the signing of an agreement with Germany that initiates a joint feasibility study into the potential for closer collaboration and the future development of a hydrogen supply chain between our two countries.
This partnership with Germany comes in addition to existing commitments
Australia has already sought through the National Hydrogen Strategy with other
like-minded economies including Japan, South Korea and Singapore.
Information about the study and Australia’s hydrogen strategy is available on the Hydrogen Strategy website.
Are we expecting to build more liquefied hydrogen
cargo ships in the near future?
Yes, we expect the development of additional liquefied hydrogen carriers
in the future.
Why is the ship limited to so few trips?
The purpose of the pilot is to demonstrate integrated supply chain
elements, not produce mass quantities of hydrogen. The main purpose of ship
transportation is to validate safe liquid hydrogen transportation and collect and
analyse data to apply to future commercial-scale development of
equipment/facilities. We are providing a sufficient period of time needed for such
analysis, a well as marine navigation training, hydrogen loading and cargo
supply.
What’s the investment cost for a liquid hydrogen
ship?
The HESC Pilot will see close to half a billion Australian dollars
invested by the Japanese and Australian industry partners, and the Victorian,
Australian and Japanese Governments.
Where can we find out more information on the Hydrogen
certification scheme?
How far advanced is hydrogen as a potential energy
source for consumers in Australia? For example, could it be used as an energy
source in rural locations?
What sort of project scoping order of magnitude
usage of H2 in maintaining -253 degrees and propelling a commercial size vessel
and load would be acceptable to make the project worthwhile in the case being
considered – e.g., Australia to Japan?
The marine carrier will use cryogenic storage tanks and vacuum insulation to contain the liquefied hydrogen and keep it at a very low temperature.
One
of the key elements of transporting liquefied hydrogen is preventing heat from
turning the liquid hydrogen back into a gas.
This
is known as ‘boil off’. KHI has developed specialised insulation technology to
respond to this challenge and will be testing its effectiveness during the
pilot.
Once
the pilot is complete and all data analysed, we will have a greater
understanding of the project’s commercial viability.
Do you see the learnings from this project as
transferrable knowledge to renewable hydrogen projects?
The infrastructure created by the HESC Project to transport, liquify,
store and ship hydrogen is the same infrastructure renewable hydrogen projects
will need. The highly skilled workers it will create shall be job-ready for the
future energy sector.
This project could contribute to decarbonisation of the local gas
networks or create markets for hydrogen used in fuel cell vehicles and power
generation in Japan, and Australia. These are the same markets renewable
hydrogen needs to see developed to become viable.
is it true that CCS carbon can later be re-extracted
and used as fuel?
Captured carbon dioxide can be reused or
recycled in several commercial applications. Carbon dioxide can also be used as
a feedstock for new products.
What is the target cost of CCS from CarbonNet?
According to CarbonNet (see here), the relative costs of CO2 capture, transport and storage will depend on the location and industry.
Storage costs are related to the geological
characteristics of sites
Transport costs are related to distance and
pipeline capacity
Capture cost can vary significantly between
industries, as some industrial processes separate the CO2 as part of
their normal operations
The most cost-effective opportunities for CCS today are in the natural
gas processing, fertiliser manufacturing, hydrogen production and biofuel
sectors. The Australian Government’s latest
Technology Investment Roadmap is targeting a stretch goal of CO₂ compression, hub transport, and
storage under $20 per tonne of CO₂
Acknowledging that H2 is combustible and
potentially explosively so, why don’t you use the CCS reservoirs that are
capable of perfect and indefinite CO2 as large-scale temporary
storage for renewable hydrogen?
Pure hydrogen gas is not toxic and cannot ignite or
explode spontaneously. An ignition source and oxidizer (like oxygen) must be
present. When handled responsibly and safely, hydrogen is no more or less
dangerous than other flammable fuels like natural gas and gasoline.
While hydrogen is abundant in the universe, it is not freely available
as a gas on Earth and must be extracted from water, fossil fuels, or biomass.
Once the hydrogen has been extracted from either water, fossil fuels, or
biomass, it must be stored and handled in the same way. Locally, hydrogen gas
is stored and transported in a high-pressure tube
trailer from commercial operators who comply with Australian safety standards
and are already storing and transporting hydrogen gas in Australia. For many
reasons including this one, it is not possible to use CCS reservoirs to store
hydrogen gas or liquid hydrogen – no matter the source.
Looking long term, do you expect that
rehabilitation plans for Loy Yang will be delayed?
AGL Loy Yang rehabilitation plans will not be impacted by the HESC
project in the short term and will continue to be developed in consultation
with DEDJTR, EPA, the Rehabilitation Authority, community and other
stakeholders. As we are in the early stages of the project it is difficult to
say what impact a commercial HESC project would have. Any changes to the plan would be in
consultation with relevant stakeholders and regulators. In the interim AGL continues to maintain a
focus and active work on progressive rehabilitation in accordance with current
and approved plans.
[3]
Internal CSIRO calculation on lifecycle emissions for coal gasification with
CCS: Bruce, S, Temminghoff, M, Hayward, J, Schmidt, E, Munnings, C, Palfreyman,
D & Hartley, P 2018, National hydrogen roadmap, CSIRO, p67
[4]
Office of Air and Radiation, 2008, Technical support document for hydrogen
production: proposed rule for mandatory reporting of greenhouse gases, US
Environmental Protection Authority, accessed 9 December 2020 via https://www.industry.gov.au/sites/default/files/2019-11/australias-national-hydrogen-strategy.pdf
[5]
Internal CSIRO calculation on lifecycle emissions for coal gasification with
CCS: Bruce, S, Temminghoff, M, Hayward, J, Schmidt, E, Munnings, C, Palfreyman,
D & Hartley, P 2018, National hydrogen roadmap, CSIRO, p67
In a recent meeting between the Prime Ministers of Japan and
Australia, the HESC Project was emphasised as a key area of cooperation between
the two countries.
The HESC Project, along with hydrogen, Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS), Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS or otherwise known as Carbon Recycling) were key items discussed by the two leaders as playing a fundamental role in the effort to move to cleaner energy solutions and reduce carbon emissions to meet net-zero targets.
The joint
media statement from the two leaders read that they welcomed the
progress made to date on the Hydrogen Energy Supply Chain project in the state
of Victoria in Australia. The Leaders concurred to advance hydrogen cooperation
to support national and global transitions to a resilient, low emissions
economy.
A transcript of the meeting remarks can be viewed here.
HESC Project Partners appreciate
the ongoing support from the Australian and Japanese Governments, which is
crucial to its successful implementation of the HESC Project. Operations will
commence soon, meaning both countries are one step closer towards deploying
hydrogen as a clean, secure, affordable and sustainable energy source.
Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd (KHI) conducted a successful world-first sea trial of the liquefied hydrogen carrier SUISO FRONTIER between the 14th and 15th of October.
Australia’s emerging hydrogen industry is already showing
promising signs of success and the Latrobe Valley is at the heart of this,
thanks to the HESC Pilot Project.
Join this webinar to learn about the HESC Project’s progress
since being launched in 2018 and understand how the Latrobe Valley can be at
the forefront of the national energy transition to lower emissions via the fuel
of the future, clean hydrogen. Community members will have the opportunity to
ask all panellists questions.
Speaking at this webinar is:
Dr Patrick Hartley, Leader of CSIRO’s Hydrogen Mission
Jeremy Stone, Director of J-Power Latrobe Valley
Ian Filby, Project Director of the CarbonNet Project
Hirofumi Kawazoe, General Manager of Hydrogen Engineering Australia Pty Ltd
Jane Oakley, Chief Executive Officer of Committee for Gippsland
To attend the 10AM-11AM AEDT session (Patrick Hartley will only be speaking at 10AM) register here To attend the 6PM-7PM AEDT session register here
Carbon capture and
storage (CCS) is one of five priority low emissions technologies in the
Australian Government’s First Low Emissions
Technology Statement, because its widespread
deployment will underpin new low emissions industries (including
hydrogen) and provide a potential decarbonisation pathway for hard-to-abate
industries.
CCS has been in
commercial operation around the world for decades, in a wide variety of
applications including power generation, industry and hydrogen production.
According to most
recent data
from the Global CCS Institute, there are now 58 CCS
facilities in various stages of development globally. These include 20 in
operation, three under construction, and 35 in various stages of development
with an estimated combined capture capacity of 127 million tonnes of CO2 per
annum.
The International Energy Agency (IEA) emphasises carbon capture as a key
technology for emission reductions and estimates that roughly 2,000 CCS
facilities are necessary by 2050, to limit global warming. An interactive map of CCS
facilities around the globe can be found via the Global CCS Institute, here.
Among the facilities featured is one off
the northwest coast of Western Australia. Here lies the Gorgon natural gas facility and the site
of the largest dedicated geological storage CCS
facility in the world. The Project is not yet at full capacity but plans to
inject and permanently store between 3.4 and 4 million tonnes of CO2 each year.
This will reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the Gorgon Project by
approximately 40 percent.
In February this year, the Gorgon Project passed the milestone of successfully
capturing and storing one million tonnes of CO2 since commencing operations.
The Snøhvit CO2 Storage facilities is in
the Barents Sea, offshore from Norway. The CO2 is captured at an LNG facility
on the island of Melkøya, northern Norway and transported via pipeline back to
the Snøhvit field offshore where it is injected into an offshore storage
reservoir. The facility is designed to capture 0.7 million tonnes per year of
CO2 and more than 4 million tonnes of CO2 has been stored to date since 2008.
Closer to home in Victoria, the CO2CRC Otway Project has been
operating for over 15 years and has injected over 80,000 tonnes of CO2
as a demonstration site. It conducts extensive research internationally
and in Australia to develop and improve processes, reduce uncertainty and
decrease the cost of CCS. Research at the Otway site also feeds into the CarbonNet project. The commercial
phase of the Hydrogen Energy Supply Chain (HESC) project requires a CCS
solution, which is what the CarbonNet project provides.
Sources: The Global CCS Institute The Global CCS Institute database at co2re.co Chevron Australia CO2CRC
Federation University, in partnership with Australian Carbon Innovation, will analyse hydrogen production quality and performance of the gasification and refining plant in the Latrobe Valley as part of the Hydrogen Energy Supply Chain (HESC) Pilot.
The Hydrogen
Production Evaluation Research Project will be delivered by researchers from Federation
University’s Carbon Technology Centre who will work closely with J-POWER Latrobe Valley, which is
designing, building and operating the hydrogen production facility.
Federation University Deputy Vice Chancellor (Research), Chris Hutchison said the partnership, “illustrates how Federation University’s regional campuses are ideally placed to support the growth of new Industries that will provide high value local employment for years to come”.
Researchers
will assess samples of hydrogen produced from the pilot project, examine
by-product composition, production efficiency and energy usage. Their analysis
will help inform decision making on commercialising the HESC Project.
Australian
Carbon Innovation Chief Executive Officer, Brian Davey, said: “This agreement
is recognition that regional centres of higher learning such as Federation
University, are able to provide world class research services to international
companies that will help Gippsland transition to sustainable and low emission
fuels for the future.”
Federation
University and Australian Carbon Innovation’s work will build expertise and skills
for a hydrogen future, a future with potential employment and economic development
benefits to the local region and the nation.
“The HESC project offers a real opportunity for
Latrobe Valley research agencies, universities, and technical firms to engage
with and build knowledge and capacity in clean hydrogen production,” said
Non-Executive Director of J-POWER LV, Jeremy Stone.
“A commercial-scale HESC Project would bring more innovation, technology and jobs as the region transition to a clean energy future.”
Australia is
taking the lead in developing a Certificate of Origin for clean hydrogen and
the Hydrogen Energy Supply Chain (HESC) Project is contributing to shaping
these standards.
The scheme will
cover emissions released in the atmosphere as a result of the hydrogen production
process. It is likely to
be domestic initially, with the ability to meet requirements of a global scheme
in the future.
Reliable
emissions tracing is vital to ensure the Australian Government can track
progress towards its 2015 Paris Agreement commitments, to limit global
temperature increases by reducing national greenhouse gas emissions.
This tracing is
also important so major importers of hydrogen can track progress toward their emissions reduction
targets.
General Manager
for Hydrogen Engineering Australian, Hirofumi Kawazoe, explained how this is
relevant to the potential commercial HESC Project.
“If
the HESC Project proceeds to commercialisation, CCS technology will be used to
make the hydrogen production process virtually CO2 emission-free,” said Mr
Kawazoe.
“A Certificate of Origin would take
this into account as it measures the amount of CO2 released into the
atmosphere.”
A commercial-scale HESC Project would in fact play a role in reducing CO2 emissions, and in turn contribute to the Australian Government’s progress towards Paris commitments.
“A
commercial-scale HESC Project would produce up to 225,000 tonnes of hydrogen
per year and if this was used for power generation
it could reduce global CO2 emissions by some three million tonnes per year[i]
– the equivalent of removing 600,000 cars off the road.”
The
certification of hydrogen was a recommendation of the National Hydrogen Strategy prepared by Chief Scientist Dr Alan
Finkel. Another reason a scheme is important is that it will avoid
misunderstanding and provide consumers with transparency around the
environmental impacts of the hydrogen, providing flexibility of being
technology neutral.
The Department
of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources states that ‘a hydrogen certification
scheme is a standardised process of tracing and certifying where and how
hydrogen is made, and the associated environmental impacts (for example,
greenhouse gas emissions).’
HESC Project
partners are part of a consultative group helping the department understand the
most important high-level aspects of an international and/or domestic hydrogen
certification scheme.
The HESC
Project Partners identify three important features of hydrogen certification:
A
scheme should be technology neutral and inclusive, consider carbon-reduction
activities and avoid resorting to terminology centred around different colours
of hydrogen.
A
certification system, especially methodology for estimation of greenhouse gas
emissions, should be transparent in approach and assumptions to build
confidence.
An
international body would be best placed to promote a guarantee of origin scheme
on a global scale.
Australia can
play a leading role in shaping an international guarantee of origin scheme
built for the global hydrogen market. HESC Project Partners welcome the
opportunity to continue contributing to this consultative process.
More detail on the HESC Project Partner’s response to the
hydrogen certification survey, which closed 22 June 2020, is available to read here.
[i] as referred to by the Japanese New Energy and
Industrial Technology Development Organisation (NEDO) in 2015.
