Waroona Energy Inc. has announced the commencement of a study to assess a Dual Fuel Hydrogen Peaking Plant (“Peaking Plant”) at the Company’s Waroona Renewable Energy Project (the “Project”) in Western Australia.
Peaking Plants are a mature technology and are used to supply power in the market during periods of high demand for electricity. They are becoming an early consumer of green hydrogen. The Western Australia Government has plans to legislate that 1% of the SouthWest’s electricity generation will come from green hydrogen.
Waroona Energy has managed to secure around EUR 5 million from HORIZON EUROPE to fund the hydrogen-powered tanker project, HyEkoTank. This signifies a promising move in the energy industry, with companies now recognizing the potential of green hydrogen.
A Peaking Plant at the Project with a minimum capacity of 100 MegaWatts (MW) is the primary focus of the study. EnergyAustralia is currently constructing the Tallawarra B Power Station, a 314MW dual fuel hydrogen power plant in New South Wales, with operations expected to commence later this year.
Adam Kiley, Adam Kiley, President, and CEO, said: “To be a successful early mover in the hydrogen industry, you not only need the potential for low cost hydrogen production with scalability, but also a clear pathway for commercialisation through existing markets and mechanisms. Waroona is fortunate to be in close proximity and have access to two of the most advanced and likely pathways for delivery of green hydrogen in the sectors early stage of development. The first being through direct injection of hydrogen into the Dampier to Bunbury Natural Gas Pipeline (DBNGP), which is available through the Company’s existing connection to the Western Australia electricity grid.”
The Peaking Plant opportunity would not only see the Company create its own pathway for renewable hydrogen consumption, but also assist Western Australia with its medium-term baseload energy supply, given the planned closure of coal fired power generation assets by 2029. Coal currently provides 30% of the State’s baseload energy needs which increases during “peak energy periods” (3pm to 9pm).
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