Hydrogen

Boundary Power is claiming an Australian first with the unveiling of a 100% relocatable and modular stand-alone power system that integrates solar with a hydrogen electrolyser and storage system, doing away with the traditional back-up diesel generator.

A green hydrogen collective that includes Australia’s Fortescue is set to share in more than $11 billion (USD 7 billion) of United States government funding as the Biden administration seeks to accelerate the commercial-scale production and deployment of low-cost, renewable hydrogen.

South Korean steelmaker Posco and French renewables giant Engie are investigating the feasibility of establishing a large-scale renewable hydrogen project in Western Australia that would provide fuel for a green iron venture planned for the state’s Pilbara region.

Fortescue is pressing ahead with the development of a 70,000-tonne green hydrogen production facility at Gibson Island in Queensland, tapping North American hydrogen technology company Plug Power to supply 550 MW of electrolysers for the proposed project.

The Western Australian government has studied the business case for developing new electrolyser manufacturing facilities in the state, finding a 2 GW manufacturing facility could inject $200 million (USD 128 million) per annum to the local economy.

The Queensland Parliament has passed new legislation that will see hydrogen pipelines regulated in the same way as fossil fuel gases, creating clearer regulatory pathways and safety assessments for hydrogen projects.

Australia’s federal hydrogen support program has now opened to applications after this process was expedited – likely in response to concerns Australia is rapidly losing ground in the hydrogen race.

Australian renewable energy developer Genex Power says has committed to building the 2 GW multi-stage Bulli Creek solar and battery project in Queensland’s southeast after entering into a 25-year offtake agreement with the green energy arm of Fortescue Metals Group.

Mattiq says it is evaluating “millions of combinations” of different alternatives to iridium for PEM electrolysis, while Hystar, Air Liquide, and Trillium Energy Solutions have revealed plans for the North American hydrogen market.

Fortescue has become a “lead investor” in, and signed a 1 GW supply deal with, US-startup Electric Hydrogen, or EH2. Fortescue, which is pursuing both green hydrogen projects and electrolyser manufacturing, says EH2’s systems produce hydrogen at “transformational” low cost.