Australia backs study to transport renewable hydrogen via existing natural gas pipeline

The project is led by APA Group and WesCF.

The Australian government is providing over $855,000 (A$1.3m) to APA Group and Wesfarmers Chemicals, Energy and Fertilisers (WesCF) to fund a study that will explore the feasibility of producing and transporting green hydrogen through an existing natural gas pipeline in South Perth.

In a statement, the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) said the about $2.3m (A$3.5m) Parmelia Green Hydrogen Project–Feasibility Study will look into the development of a large-scale renewable hydrogen production facility backed by purpose-build renewable generate in the south of Kwinana in Western Australia.

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The hydrogen will then be transported through a 430-kilometre section of APA’s Paremelia pipeline to connect it with WesCF’s ammonia production facilities.

“The decarbonisation of the industrial sector is critical to progressing Australia’s 2030 and 2050 net-zero targets. Renewable hydrogen will be vital to cutting emissions in heavy industries like ammonia production and will be hugely important in industrial centres like Kwinana,” ARENA CEO Darren Miller said.

“This feasibility study will tell us more about what it takes to develop a renewable hydrogen industry in Western Australia and ARENA will play an active role in sharing those lessons with the market,” he added.

$1 = A$1.52