Collaboration partners Yara International ASA and ENGIE have welcomed the announcement of AUS$995 000 in funding from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) towards their feasibility study, which is examining the potential to make renewable hydrogen technology work in industrial-scale facilities. Yara International is working towards making carbon-free fertilizer, and renewable hydrogen is the major enabler for making CO2-free or ‘green’ ammonia, which in turn, is the key ingredient for ‘green’ fertilizer, as industrial feedstock and potential energy carrier. Yara’s goal is to ensure that it will be the market shaper for green ammonia and low carbon fertilizer production. ENGIE is committed to developing industrial-scale solutions based on renewable hydrogen, produced by electrolysis using a green energy supply, as it believes that hydrogen is the key that will unlock the full potential of renewables and carbon-free energy solutions.
The collaboration on the feasibility study aims to assess the first step towards converting the Yara Pilbara plant from one that relies completely on natural gas for its hydrogen, to one where a share of its hydrogen comes from renewable power. Reaching that goal would further reduce the plant’s CO2 emissions. Yara and ENGIE regard the Pilbara region as the ideal location for such a project, with plenty of sun and seawater, which are key ingredients to producing renewable hydrogen. “We appreciate that ARENA has recognised Yara and ENGIE’s complementary expertise and experience on this complex project via this commitment,” said Tove Andersen, Yara International Executive Vice President Production. “ARENA’s support will assist in completing the feasibility study so that we can fully understand the opportunity for generating renewable hydrogen for use in our Pilbara facilities”,
Andersen also said that reducing the costs associated with producing, storing, transporting and deploying hydrogen is crucial for adaption of this technology. Integrated projects like the green hydrogen plant at Yara Pilbara would allow for a real-world, real time analysis of costs and processes. “As an energy transition enabler, ENGIE is heartened by ARENA’s support for the joint project with Yara to decarbonise its ammonia production. This is also a great example of government support for a renewable hydrogen industry to take off in Australia. ENGIE is ready to contribute.” said Michèle Azalbert, CEO of ENGIE’s Hydrogen Business Unit. The feasibility study will investigate the opportunity for a renewable hydrogen plant, assessing a number of variables to identify the optimal scale of solar power generation, feeding multi-megawatt electrolysers. The green hydrogen generated would then be fed into the existing ammonia plant, located in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.
