- Milestone Investment and Partnering Marks Australian Hydrogen Industry Boom
Australias largest clean hydrogen project has been given a boost with owners Australian Future Energy (AFE) announcing a Memorandum of Understanding(MOU)with one of Japan’s leading general trading companies, ITOCHU Corporation(ITOCHU), earlier today.
The $AUD 1 billion Gladstone Energy and Ammonia Project (GEAP), the nation’s largest and most advanced clean hydrogen production project, is now close to commencing its Front End Engineering Design (FEED)study for the commercial production of low carbon energy alternatives as soon as 2024.
The MOU has been hailed by AFE CEO Kerry Parker as the ‘pivot point for the domestic hydrogen industry and validation of AFE’shighly anticipated Gladstone project.
“We are now at a turning point for the Gladstone Energy and Ammonia Project. Potential international investment in the project, from a party as credible as ITOCHU, demonstrates its long-term viability and profitability,” Mr. Parker said. “ITOCHU Corporation has a history of shrewd energy and resource investments in Australia, and we are incredibly proud to partner with them on this important project.
”This announcement also takes us a step closer to delivering long-term job opportunities for Central Queensland through the delivery of low-carbon energy alternatives. AFE’sGladstone development will also act as a major enabler and aggregator of smaller-scale green hydrogen project being proposed at present in and around the Gladstone region.”
Under the MOU:
- ITOCHU will explore the potential investment in The proceeds are to be used by AFE to support part of the FEED and related works for the feasibility study of the proposed GEAP;
- the two parties will work co-operatively to explore the potential for the involvement by ITOCHU in the marketing of ammonia and other produced products from AFE’s GEAP and other subsequent AFE projects and developments to global markets;
- they will work co-operatively to explore the potential for the development and integration of green ammonia, green hydrogen and other renewable energy related projects in connection with the development of GEAP; and
- they will work co-operatively to explore the potential for additional investment, once the Feasibility Study for GEAP is completed, by ITOCHU in either AFE or in
Using both green and Blue Hydrogen technology, the integrated GEAP facility will utilise a proven gasification process to produce ammonia, synthetic natural gas and ultimately electrical power, vital for Australia’s growing clean energy industry.
Blue Hydrogen strikes a middle ground between traditional hydrogen production and pure green hydrogen methods but delivers clean hydrogen and ammonia at scale and reliability.
Ammonia is being increasingly used around the world as the most efficient and effective way to transport hydrogen. It is increasingly being used as a fuel for large transport vehicles and also for co-firing in power stations to reduce emissions.
Through its patented technology GEAP is planned to produce approximately 230,000 tonnes per annum (tpa) of ammonia and 14 PJ of pipeline quality gas, which is equal to approximately 91,000 tpa of hydrogen.
Offtake arrangements are in place for all the output of the plant, including all carbon dioxide, which will be processed and captured, to be on-sold for food production and advanced manufacturing developments. Additional ammonia production is also being considered as part of GEAP.
The gasification technology proposed for the GEAP is the first of its type in Queensland, and only one of a handful in the world.
It is estimated that up to 200 jobs will be supported during the 30-year operational period and 1,280 indirect jobs will be created in the Gladstone region during the operational phase. In addition, there is expected to be 1,000 jobs created during the construction phase.
The GEAP is listed as a ‘Project of Significance’ to the State of Queensland.
Australian Future Energy is a private Brisbane based company with a focus on efficient and clean energy production to meet growing domestic and international demand. The Company has the global rights to the US based Gas Technology Institute Gasification Technology. AFE is managed by a board with a proven history in gasification and major resource infrastructure projects. Projects affiliated with AFE include The Gladstone Energy and Ammonia Project, the Surat Basin Hydrogen Hub (SBHH) and the Pentland Hydrogen Hub (PHH).
Read the most up to date Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Industry news at FuelCellsWorks
