Arrowsmith Hydrogen Project – Stage 1
Arrowsmith Hydrogen Project
A renewable hydrogen production facility is planned to be built in stages near Dongara with a focus on supplying hydrogen for mobility purposes, with power use options also under examination.
| Main proponents:
Infinite Blue Energy Pty Ltd |
Main end-use classification:
Hydrogen mobility, power use |
Status:
Advanced development – Stage 1 anticipated to commence production in 2022 (initial production would be at 5 tonnes per day building to 25 tonnes per day over a 12 month period) |
Estimated cost:
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| Other involvement:
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Production details:
Hydrogen production – 25 tonnes per day – Stage 1 110 tonnes per day projected – Stage 2 |
Location:
Western Australia, Australia |
Announced funding:
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Project description
The Arrowsmith Hydrogen Project is a planned renewable hydrogen production plant to be located near Dongara in Western Australia, 290 kilometres north of Perth.
The project is being developed by Infinite Blue Energy. The company has indicated that it intends for this project to be the first of a series of renewable hydrogen projects in regional areas.
The company indicates the project would be developed in two stages – Stage 1, a sub-commercial plant; Stage 2, a commercial-sized plant.
Stage 1 of the project is anticipated to commence production in 2022, with planned (renewable) hydrogen production of 25 tonnes (25,000 kg) per day. An Alkaline electrolyser facility of 50 megawatt (MW) capacity would supply the hydrogen output. Capacity configuration for Stage 1 is 2 x 20 MW units and 1 x 10 MW unit.
The Stage 1 plant would be supplied by around 160 MW of renewable power (70 MW of solar power supplemented by 90 MW of wind generation capacity, both of which would be generated on-site Dongara).
It is expected that the hydrogen production would support development of fuel cell vehicles through the supply of compressed and cryogenic hydrogen, though power use opportunities are also being examined.
The Front End Engineering and Design (FEED) study for Stage 1 was undertaken by Petrofac and completed in early 2021. The Dongara facility includes a 30 tonnes per day ‘off the shelf’ liquefaction system that would be part of the Arrowsmith development.
The proponent has executed a 20-year offtake agreement with 2 x 5-year extensions for all of the Arrowsmith Hydrogen production. The hydrogen will be delivered in liquid form to Top Group existing roadhouse infrastructure (which supports vehicles travelling from Perth to regional Western Australia, including the Pilbara area) and new locations being developed. Off take would commence at 5 tonnes per day building up to 25 tonnes per day over a 12 month period. The proponent has completed the designs of 26 repurposed fuel stations to accommodate liquid hydrogen.
The Perth-based Xodus Group is finalising activities designed to deliver environmental impact assessment documentation to the state’s Environmental Protection Agency.
Reports in the press indicate that the Stage 1 project could displace around 118,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions per annum.
A planned second stage of the development would increase renewable hydrogen production to a projected 110 tonnes (110,000 kg) per day. Stage 2 would be expected to be similar in design to the initial plant and build on the operating experience and utilise additional land. It would expand the product stream to include cryogenic hydrogen for export to the Asia Pacific region, where end-uses could include for vehicle mobility, heating and electricity generation.
The proponent is in the final stages of discussions to secure a strategic partner for the Arrowsmith development.
Updated: May 2021