(Berlin) - Australia's Energy Minister Chris Bowen recently met both Federal Research Minister Bettina Stark-Watzinger and Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck. It was agreed to further intensify cooperation between the two countries in the areas of climate and energy. The goal is to build a complete supply chain for green hydrogen. The countries had already agreed on an alliance for hydrogen production and trading in June 2021.
Australian Energy Minister Chris Bowen (left) with Economics Minister Robert Habeck in Berlin. © Chris Bowen / Twitter
In Berlin, the ministers also announced the first four projects selected as part of the joint funding initiative “German-Australian Hydrogen Innovation and Technology Incubator” (HyGate). German-Australian consortia are formed to carry out the project. Germany has pledged up to 39,6 million euros to support these bilateral projects, and Australia has pledged up to 50 million Australian dollars (32 million euros).
“ScaleH2” – Scalable Electrolyzers with Innovative materials for Hydrogen Export to Germany
The aim of this initiative is to build a hydrogen export value chain from the Illawarra region in the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW) to Germany. To this end, a strategy for the production of renewable hydrogen using scalable electrolyzer technologies is being developed, according to the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). In addition, delivery from Wilhelmshaven in Lower Saxony to industrial customers in emerging “Hydrogen Valleys” should be examined, among other things to decarbonize the steel production of Salzgitter AG as a partner of the Hydrogen Campus Salzgitter.
From Germany the following are involved: Eisenhuth GmbH&Co. KG, the Institute for Layers and Surface Technology (IST), the Institute for Energy Infrastructures and Geothermal Energy (IEG), the TU Braunschweig and, as associated partners, Uniper Hydrogen GmbH, the Hydrogen Campus Salzgitter, Open Hybrid LabFactory eV and Energuy Hub Port of Wilhelmshaven. In Australia, the consortium includes the consortium ATCO Group, University of New South Wales (UNSW) and the University of Technology, Sydney (UTS). The funding amount of 4,7 million euros is mainly borne by Germany, while Australia pays 0,8 million Australian dollars (0,52 million euros).
“CFE Pilot” – High-Efficiency Capillary-fed Electrolyzer Pilot
The pilot project for highly efficient “capillary-fed” electrolyzers is intended to further develop the technology from Australia’s Hysata Pty Ltd. The company's concept reduces electricity consumption for hydrogen production by around 20 percent. While conventional commercial alkaline water electrolyzers require more than 50 kilowatt hours of electricity per kilogram of hydrogen produced, the Hysata concept only requires 41 kilowatt hours, i.e. around 20 percent less. This means that the production price of hydrogen can be significantly reduced, it is said.
Participants from Germany: Alantum Europe GmbH, Messkonzept GmbH, VAF GmbH, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH and the Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology (IPT). Australian participants: Hysata Pty Ltd and Bluescope Steel (associated). The German funding amount is 5,8 million euros, the Australian funding amount is about the same at $8,99 million (5,78 million euros).
“EGH2” – Edify Green Hydrogen
The Australian Edify Energy Pty Ltd. and Siemens Energy GmbH & Co. KG jointly intend to build an electrolyzer for the production of green hydrogen. A photovoltaic system with an installed capacity of 17,6 megawatts is integrated into the demonstration system with a capacity of 21 megawatts. The plant is located in the Lansdown Eco-Industrial Precinct (LEIP) south of Townsville (Queensland state). This is the first stage of a planned plant with a capacity of one gigawatt. However, scaling requires sufficient local hydrogen infrastructure and the possibility of hydrogen export via the port of Townsville, for example. Whose City council had approved the 1 GW system in autumn 2021.
Participating from Germany: Siemens Energy Global GmbH & Co. KG, RWTH Aachen and the Research Center for Energy Economics. V. Participating from Australia: Edify Energy, James Cook University (JCU) and the University of Melbourne (UoM). German funding amount: 16,4 million euros, Australian funding amount 20,74 million dollars (12,98 million euros).
“Solar Methanol” – 24×7 Solar Powered Methanol Production
The consortium wants to set up a plant network to produce around 7.500 tonnes of methanol per year in South Australia. The basis is the Concentrated Solar Power technology (CSP) from Vast Solar (Australia), which enables a round-the-clock supply of electricity and heat. This means that the ten megawatt system from the German manufacturer BSE Methanol GmbH can be operated continuously. The project management including engineering services will be taken over by Fichtner GmbH. The companies expect to be able to supply green methanol at a price competitive with gray methanol from around 2030. The project provides the basis for scaling up methanol production to around 150.000 tons per year.
Participating from Germany: Fichtner GmbH & Co. KG, BSE Methanol GmbH, German Aerospace Center – Institute for Solar Research. Negotiations are still ongoing with an industrial and investment partner. Participating from Australia: Vast Solar Pty Ltd, CSIRO – Australian Solar Thermal Research Institute (ASTRI). The German funding amount is 13,2 million euros, the Australian funding amount is 19,48 million dollars (12,66 million euros).
The HyGateprojects are scheduled to begin work in the first half of 2023. HyGate is a joint initiative of the Australian state energy agency ARENA on behalf of the Department of Climate Change, Energy, Environment and Water (DCCEEW) and the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) via the project management company Jülich (PtJ).
Requirement of over 110 TWh of hydrogen in 2030
The German National Hydrogen Strategy estimates hydrogen needs at 90 and 110 terawatt hours (TWh) in 2030. The German-Australian feasibility study “HySupply” states a need of 110 TWh (hydrogen and derivatives). Other estimates are sometimes significantly higher. The BMBF therefore assumes “at least” 110 TWh in 2030.
Federal Research Minister Bettina Stark-Watzinger presents the research cooperation between Germany and Australia on green hydrogen at the federal press conference. © BMBF
According to the BMBF, the HySupply study also comes to the conclusion that the preliminary costs for producing renewable hydrogen in Australia are between two and six euros per kilogram, depending on the location. These could potentially be reduced to 1,30 euros if the investment costs for electrolyzers were reduced, electricity was cheaper and the investment risk was minimized.
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Rendering of the first stage of the hydrogen project “EGH2”, which Edify is initiating together with Siemens as part of the HyGate program in Queensland. © Edify Energy
