QUEENSLAND’s Gladstone hasn’t been left entirely out in the cold after Labor’s May federal election loss, with the announcement today that a $4.2 million gas injection facility will be built to send hydrogen into the city’s gas network as part of the state’s $15 million Hydrogen Industry Development Fund. 

Labor had promised a total of $1.14 billion on hydrogen development with the Queensland town to become a hub based on its LNG experience with an initial investment of $3 million 

 "Due to existing LNG infrastructure and a proof of concept Hydrogen Plant, Gladstone has enormous potential as an export hub for hydrogen," it said.  

Today Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the town will become the first entire city in Australia to use a blend of natural gas and hydrogen. Build will begin in November and the park will produce 20 kilos of hydrogen a day using certified green power from the local power grid and will be blended into the gas network at a level of 10%.   

Australia's chief scientist Dr Alan Finkel has suggested 10% is a fair rate for initial blending but after when practicable the networks should scale straight up to 100% rather than incrementally.  

The facility will include a 175 kilowatt Polymer Electrolyte Membrane electrolyser, water demineralisation system and process cooling equipment. As the facility modular it can be re scaled-up in the future to produce volumes beyond Gladstone's needs, for potential wider domestic and even export markets. 

"Using renewable hydrogen, Australian Gas Networks (AGN) will trial the blended hydrogen gas with a view to converting Gladstone's network to hydrogen in the future," the premier said.  

The Australian Gas Infrastructure Group's subsidiary Australian Gas Networks received $1.7 million via the fund to build the blending facility.   

"This project will be the first in Australia to blend renewable hydrogen into a gas network with residential, commercial and industrial customers," state development minister Cameron Dick said. 

"This project supports Gladstone's vision to be a key hub for Queensland's domestic and hydrogen export industry, just as it is for natural gas today," AGN CEO Ben Wilson said. 

Source: Energy News Bulletin

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