Pilot Energy announces innovative Mid West Blue Hydrogen & CCS project consortium, aiming low cost hydrogen.
Leading Australian energy infrastructure business APA Group will investigate opportunities in Western Australia to commercialise and deliver low cost hydrogen as part of a newly established consortium with Pilot Energy and Warrego Energy Limited.
The consortium’s Mid West Blue Hydrogen and carbon capture and storage (CCS) feasibility study will look at blue hydrogen technology, locations for production, and opportunities to commercialise and distribute low-cost blue hydrogen, while assessing the potential use of the Cliff Head oil project and other reservoirs across the broader Perth Basin to store the carbon dioxide.
APA Group Executive Infrastructure Development Kevin Lester said the feasibility study would focus on technology, regional carbon capture and storage potential and explore customer requirements to deliver low cost hydrogen.
Mr Kevin Lester said.
We are excited to continue to roll out initiatives under our Pathfinder program that can support a lower carbon future and grow opportunities for a clean hydrogen economy.
“We know the demand for innovative energy solutions is likely to grow exponentially as technology continues to mature and hydrogen is one example where the industry is well placed to develop and deploy low emissions technologies that we will need to accelerate the energy transition.”
“Gas will be vital to supporting renewables growth and Australia’s decarbonisation pathway, but the industry also has decades of skills and capabilities in operating gas pipelines and gas power generation, which will be vital to safely and efficiently producing and transporting hydrogen and other clean molecules in the future.”
Through APA’s Pathfinder program, the study will also investigate electrifying the blue hydrogen and carbon dioxide facilities to enable the integration of renewable energy to reduce the carbon footprint of the project.
“APA’s Pathfinder program, which will be a key enabler in APA’s efforts to achieve net zero operations emissions by 2050, is looking at hydrogen energy solutions of the future as well as other innovations and technologies that will help APA leverage its existing capabilities,” Mr Lester said.
“The challenges in energy security and reliability will remain, and this is especially amplified in hard-to-abate sectors, which is why we recognise the need to continue to support investments in hydrogen and other new energy technologies.
“Bringing expertise together from across the industry will help tackle the economic challenges faced with the development of new technologies at scale.”
The consortium partners will jointly fund the feasibility study, which is expected to be complete in the first quarter of CY2022.
Mid West Blue Hydrogen & CCS Project Consortium – Shareholder and Investor Briefing Webinar, November 4, 2021
