CANBERRA: The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) on Friday announced funding for the nation's biggest and first-ever hydrogen plant.
Australian Renewable Energy Agency has authorised A$47.5 million (USD 31 million) in funding for the project to produce hydrogen and ammonia in the Pilbara region of Western Australia (WA).
The project's plans include for a 10 megawatt (MW) electrolyzer to produce sustainable hydrogen and an 18 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) system to power it. Work on the project is scheduled to start in October.
As per ARENA press release, when the electrolyzer is finished in 2024, it will be one of the biggest facilities in the world, able to produce up to 640 tonnes of renewable hydrogen annually. The initiative, according to Minister of Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen, will help Australia in becoming a "hydrogen exporting superpower."
In order to support industrial and difficult-to-abate industries, hydrogen will play a bigger role in our energy mix as we transition to a more renewable economy, he told reporters.
Hydrogen and oxygen are separated from water in electrolyzers using energy. The generated hydrogen can subsequently be utilised to generate power, as a fuel for zero-emission vehicles, or as a feedstock for compounds like ammonia. The nearby ammonia plant will receive energy and hydrogen from the ENGIE Yuri project.
According to a press statement from ARENA, chief executive Darren Miller, "The Yuri project is Australia's first truly big renewable hydrogen project, and it is one of the largest so far in the world."
"To cut emissions in so-called hard-to-abate sectors, renewable hydrogen will be essential. The possibility for Australia to export clean energy and products devoid of emissions is likewise enormous. If we want to attain zero net emissions in the upcoming decades, this will be crucial."
Putin couldn't stop laughing at Shahbaz Sharif, Pakistanis also enjoying VIDEO
Pakistan becomes poor, no money for the treatment of its star player.., Afridi reveals
Pakistan dismisses 'Indian propaganda' on Neelum-Jhelum project