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.