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Frontier Energy: Pathway to Green Hydrogen Production Becoming Clearer Through Stage One Solar Energy

By June 14, 2022 11   min read  (1812 words)

June 14, 2022 |

Fuel Cells Works, Frontier Energy: Pathway to Green Hydrogen Production Becoming Clearer Through Stage One Solar Energy

Frontier Energy Limited (ASX: FHE) (Frontier or the Company) is pleased to announce preliminary results from the Green Hydrogen Study indicate green hydrogen production could be achieved significantly earlier than originally anticipated at the Bristol Springs Solar Project (BSS Project).

This  opportunity  is  only  possible  due  to  the  BSS  Project’s  unique  location  near  Waroona, Western Australia. The location on free-hold land, proximal to existing grid (SWIS), gas and water infrastructure, reduces overall costs when compared to projects in more remote areas. Furthermore, the proximity to an existing and emerging green hydrogen domestic market provides a pathway to hydrogen sales.

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Preliminary findings from the ongoing Green Hydrogen Study indicate that commercial quantities of green hydrogen can be produced from the 114MWdc Stage One solar production, which is significantly earlier than originally anticipated
  • Ownership of a   renewable   energy   asset   (BSS   Project)   in   addition   to   the surrounding existing infrastructure significantly enhances the economics of hydrogen production
  • Early adopters of the transition to green hydrogen include the users of the Dampier Bunbury Pipeline (natural gas) as well as the long-haul transportation industry (diesel)
  • A key initiative of the Western Australian Government is for hydrogen to replace diesel. WA currently imports 6.7 billion litres1 of diesel per annum
  • On a direct comparison basis, today’s diesel price (∼$2 per Litre) equates to an hydrogen price of $8 per kg (1kg of H2 = 4 Litres of diesel)
  • The Australian government has allocated A$1.3 billion in its 2022-23 budget for energy security funding, including for hydrogen2
  • The Company’s Renewable Expansion Study and Green Hydrogen Study are currently being finalised and will be released in the coming months

Managing  Director Mike  Young  commented,  “The Stage One Solar  Project is an excellent foundation for the Company to move into the renewable energy sector, as we believe it will generate solid returns over at least a 30-year operating period, in a market environment of ever-increasing clean energy demand.

As part of the Green Hydrogen Study, the Xodus Group was asked to determine what size solar production, as a minimum, would be required to be able to commence green hydrogen production. We originally anticipated this would be larger than the Stage One Project   (114Mwdc)   to   justify   the   additional   capital   costs   associated   with   hydrogen production.

The BSS Project is, however, uniquely located around significant existing infrastructure, which is critical for the hydrogen industry, meaning our initial capital costs will be significantly less compared to more remote projects for first production.  Our ability to service the most likely first adopters of hydrogen (gas pipeline and long-haul transportation) means we are also likely to have customers for our product. Given the industry remains in its infancy, the ability to target these specific customers is somewhat more important than after more widespread adoption.

As I recently saw in Rotterdam at the World Hydrogen Conference, the global market for green hydrogen is rapidly growing. It is clear hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEV), which have actually been around since the 1960s, will be a major part of global decarbonisation, especially in the long- and heavy haulage transport industry.

Given expectations for diesel prices, on a direct comparison we believe hydrogen use in the long-haul transport industry is already an economically viable alternative.”

Bristol Springs Solar Project – Stage 1

The BSS Project is a large, utility-scale solar energy project located in the southwest of Western Australia. Development is well advanced and is designed to produce 114MWdc of renewable electricity in Stage One with land acquisition opportunities to expand beyond this.  The BSS Project will utilise well-established solar panel and tracking technology to deliver clean energy. It is strategically located to connect to the backbone of the Southwest Interconnected System (SWIS), and is close to road, water, and port infrastructure.

Development approval has been granted by the Regional Joint Development Assessment Panel, and an electricity transfer access contract (ETAC) is in progress with Western Power and is expected to be completed by the end of 2022. A summary of the key metrics of the BSS Project is provided below:

These assumptions were provided by EPC Technologies.

  • Installed solar panels                             114MWp
  • Capacity Factor                                       25%
  • Expected energy production                247GWac
  • Generation technology                          Single axis tracking, bifacial solar panels
  • Operating life                                          30 years
Fuel Cells Works, Frontier Energy: Pathway to Green Hydrogen Production Becoming Clearer Through Stage One Solar Energy

Table 1: Summary of Production and Cost assumptions

Renewable Electricity Sales

The  BSS  Project  is  located  approximately  3.5km  from  the  Landwehr  Terminal,  a  major connection point into the SWIS, the electricity grid covering the southwest of Western

Australia. The SWIS provides power to over 2.3 million customers over an area 1,000km north to south and more than 600km east to west.

The Landwehr terminal is on a major 330kV power line which provides the BSS Project with connection to many large industrial customers in the Southwest from Bunbury and Collie in the south, to Kwinana to the north. Almost all of the companies in this region (Figure 1) have committed to decarbonisation of their operations providing an ideal pool of potential customers for Frontier’s clean energy.

Fuel Cells Works, Frontier Energy: Pathway to Green Hydrogen Production Becoming Clearer Through Stage One Solar Energy

Figure 1: Project location showing SWIS and major industries nearby

Once on the grid the power can either be sold via:

  • Bilateral agreements with industrial users connected to the grid under Power Purchase Agreements (PPA), or
  • Traditional sales into the balancing market onto the grid through the Market Operator.

Other revenue mechanisms include:

  • Reserve Capacity Credits; and
  • Large-Scale Generation Certificates (i.e. “Carbon Offset Credits”); and
  • Essential System Services.

Expressions of interest for PPAs have been sent to a number of major companies in the region with a view to developing term sheets for power offtake agreements. The Company is also investigating the possibility of green hydrogen offtake agreements.

As the BSS Project progresses, these term sheets could provide the basis of binding offtake agreements which will form the foundation of funding mechanisms and a final investment decision. Furthermore, the Australian government has allocated A$1.3 billion in its 2022-23 budget1 for energy security funding, including funding specifically for the development of hydrogen projects.

Green hydrogen as an alternative to solar energy sales

As an alternative to selling solar power into the SWIS, the Company is assessing green hydrogen production using clean energy produced from the Stage One 114MWp solar farm. Given the Company’s unique location, surrounded by existing world class infrastructure, the initial capital required for this development is lower. This includes from the following:

  • Multiple fresh water sources exist in the region avoiding the need for a desalination facility. The requirement for desalination materially increases capital and operating costs and involves significantly more complex approvals extending timelines to production.
  • Connection to the SWIS – access to this power grid, only 3.5km from the Stage One site, allows the Company to sell power in excess of requirements for green hydrogen into the SWIS.

Importantly,   it   also   provides   the   opportunity   for   the   Company   to   purchase renewable energy from other providers (eg. wind energy) during low or no-sun periods when the solar plant is not generating power. Using other sources of clean energy and power arbitrage or swaps, the SWIS may be able to provide a ‘virtual’ battery for the project.   Capex for a (now abandoned) battery for Stage One was estimated at $60m.

The Company has previously announced that it has selected the well-established alkaline electrolysis technology for hydrogen production (ASX Announcement 25 May 2022). Details on the incremental capital and operating costs will be provided with the final Renewable Expansion and Green Hydrogen Studies.

Fuel Cells Works, Frontier Energy: Pathway to Green Hydrogen Production Becoming Clearer Through Stage One Solar Energy

Image 2: Flows sheet for green hydrogen production

Frontier believes that the industries most likely to transition from their current fossil fuel energy sources towards green hydrogen in the near term, and provide an early market for the BSS Project include:

Hydrogen blending in natural gas networks – The Dampier to Bunbury Natural Gas Pipeline (DBNGP) is Western Australia’s most significant gas transmission asset and provides natural gas to Western Australia.

The Western Australian government announced in May 2022 that to support the renewable hydrogen industry in Western Australia           they have commenced investigating the implementation of a Renewable Hydrogen Target1. This would involve setting targets for retailers to procure a certain percentage of energy fuelled by renewable hydrogen. This would create the first local market which would support emerging hydrogen projects and improve energy grid stability. The work is targeted for completion by late 2022.

Importantly a possible connection point to the DBNGP is located approximately 3km from the BSS Project where the pipeline branches off to provide gas to Alcoa’s Wagerup Alumina Refinery.

Fuel Cells Works, Frontier Energy: Pathway to Green Hydrogen Production Becoming Clearer Through Stage One Solar Energy

Image 3: A DBNGP connection point

Replace diesel in the long-haul transportation industry – Given advancements in hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEV), most notably in long-haul vehicles, it is likely that long-haul transportation will be an early adopter for the hydrogen industry.

The Western Australia government also identified domestically produced green hydrogen as a key part of the strategy to reduce the reliance on diesel, which is all imported. Currently WA imports approximately 6.7 billion litres of diesel per year1. The importance of energy security has been accelerated during 2022, most notably in Europe due to the Russia – Ukraine conflict.

Operating a hydrogen FCEV such as a truck or bus is comparable to a conventional vehicle, offering similar (or faster) refuelling rates, payload and operational range. Some truck manufacturers like Daimler, which owns Freightliner in the U.S., Toyota Motor Corp., Volvo AB and others strongly back the evolution of this industry and each is developing new fuel cell engine technology to be powered by hydrogen.

Fuel Cells Works, Frontier Energy: Pathway to Green Hydrogen Production Becoming Clearer Through Stage One Solar Energy

Image 4: Hyzon Class 8 operates on hydrogen (source: Hyzonmotors.com)

How do you convert diesel into kilograms of hydrogen?

In simple terms, 1 kilogram of hydrogen is equivalent to 4 Litres of diesel. A litre of diesel fuel comprises 35.9 MJ (megajoules) of energy. In comparison, a kilogram of hydrogen comprises 142 MJ of energy. Thus, on the basis of energy equivalence, one kilogram of hydrogen is equivalent to 4 litres of diesel123. The table below illustrates the key assumptions as well as highlights the cost to fill a vehicle.

Fuel Cells Works, Frontier Energy: Pathway to Green Hydrogen Production Becoming Clearer Through Stage One Solar Energy

Table 2: Conversion of diesel to hydrogen

Next steps

The Company is continuing to work with Xodus Group to complete both the Renewable Expansion and Green Hydrogen Studies in the near term.

The Company has commenced a process seeking expressions of interest for PPA’s for renewable electricity offtake from Stage One at Bristol Springs. This data will form the basis for the final investment decision for construction of the 114MWdc solar farm. As part of this process, the Company will also gauge preliminary interest for hydrogen offtake agreements.

About Frontier Energy

Frontier Energy Ltd (ASX: FHE) is a clean energy company developing the Bristol Springs Solar Project (BSS Project) near Waroona in Western Australia.

The  BSS  Project  will  provide  enough power for 45,000 homes and abate 180,000t of CO2 emissions per year.

The Project is located 120 km south of Perth, and importantly is within the “Golden Triangle” of Kwinana- Bunbury-Collie, which provides both supporting infrastructure and potential offtake customers.

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