Origin Green Hydrogen and Ammonia Plant

A feasibility study is being undertaken to assess the potential for developing a large-scale renewables-based hydrogen and ammonia plant to be located at Bell Bay in Tasmania.

Main proponents: Origin Energy	Main end-use classification: Industrial process – ammonia production	Status: Under development	Estimated cost: AUD$3.2 million
Other involvement:	Production details: Under evaluation	Location: Tasmania, Australia	Announced funding: AUD$1.6 million Tasmanian Renewable Hydrogen Fund

Project description:

The project proponent is investigating the feasibility of constructing a large-scale renewables-based hydrogen and ammonia plant with a planned production rate of 420,000 tonnes of ammonia per annum. The plant would be located at the Bell Bay Advanced Manufacturing Zone in Tasmania.

The feasibility study is assessing a plant designed to enable flexible operation, with an estimated electrical load of more than 500 megawatts (MW).

While the main focus of the project would be the production of renewables-based ammonia for export, some of the produced hydrogen and ammonia would be made available for domestic use.

The feasibility study is expected to be completed by December 2021.

Subject to the results of the feasibility study, the project proponent is targeting Front End Engineering Design (FEED) studies to commence in 2022.

If the project were to proceed, production operations is targeted for the mid-2020s.

In August 2021, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL) announced that it had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Origin Energy for a joint study to build a supply chain of renewable energy-derived ammonia. The release noted Origin is pursuing a number of renewable-based hydrogen projects, including the green hydrogen and ammonia export-based project in Bell Bay, Tasmania. The release noted MOL and Origin would complete a feasibility study on marine transportation of ammonia, demand in Japan and Asia and developing a supply chain by December 2021.

Milestones:

November 2020: The feasibility study for this project is one of three feasibility studies to which funds were allocated in November 2020 by the Tasmanian Government under its AUD$20 million Tasmanian Renewable Hydrogen Fund (part of the wider AUD$50 million Tasmanian Renewable Hydrogen Industry Development Funding Program).

 

Last reviewed: August 2021