ABEL Energy Bell Bay Powerfuels Project
ABEL Energy Bell Bay Powerfuels Project
A feasibility study has been undertaken to assess the potential for developing a large-scale, renewables-based hydrogen and e-methanol facility at Bell Bay in Tasmania.
| Main proponents:
ABEL Energy |
Main end-use classification:
Export potential: industrial process – methanol production Domestic use |
Status:
Under development |
Estimated cost:
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| Other involvement:
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Production details:
Approximately 60 tonnes per day hydrogen production under evaluation |
Location:
Tasmania, Australia |
Announced funding:
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 the Tasmanian Renewable Hydrogen Fund |
Project description
The project proponent is developing a large-scale, renewables-based hydrogen and hybrid e-methanol facility at the Bell Bay Advanced Manufacturing Zone in Tasmania. The project would deploy biomass gasification of plantation forestry residues in conjunction with water electrolysis to produce 200-300 thousand tonnes per annum green methanol. Direct capture of CO2 from the atmosphere will also be assessed.
The project would deploy a 120-to-260-megawatt (MW) electrolysis plant to produce renewables-based hydrogen, part of which would be available for domestic consumption though the majority of hydrogen produced would act as feedstock (along with syngas) to enable renewables-based production of methanol, for both domestic and international customers.
The energy supply for the electrolysis plant would be through hydro and wind-based power supply sources.
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).
July 2022: ABEL Energy Knowledge Sharing Report released – this report investigated the feasibility of a 100 MW electrolyser plant to produce renewables-based green hydrogen and methanol at Bell Bay for domestic and export use
December 2022: Announcement by Iberdrola Australia and hydrogen developer ABEL Energy that they will be working together to deliver a green hydrogen and green methanol production facility at Bell Bay, in Northern Tasmania. The scale of the Bell Bay Powerfuels Project is at 200,000 tonnes per year of green methanol for Stage One, with Stage Two increasing capacity to 300,000 tonnes per year.
Updated: February 2023