Feasibility of Renewable Hydrogen to Decarbonise the Esperance Region in WA (Archived)

June 29th, 2023

Feasibility of Renewable Hydrogen to Decarbonise the Esperance Region in WA

Horizon Power has examined the feasibility of producing renewables-based hydrogen in the Esperance region of Western Australia to support regional decarbonisation.

Main proponents:

Horizon Power

 Main end-use classification:

Microgrid – power use

 Status:

Archived – study completed

 Estimated cost:

 
Other involvement:

 

 Production details:

Under evaluation

 Location:

Western Australia, Australia

 Announced funding:

Feasibility study:
AUD$700,000 – Federal Government Regional and Remote Communities Reliability Fund (Round Two Award)

Project description

Horizon Power, the Western Australian Government’s regional and remote power provider, has investigated the potential to develop a ‘hub and spoke’ hydrogen supply chain model.

This project investigated the feasibility of producing renewables-based hydrogen in a centralised location in Esperance, a town on the Southern Ocean coastline of Western Australia approximately 720 kilometres east-southeast of Perth, by using existing wind assets, new assets and the spill energy from the renewables hub. The produced hydrogen would then be transported and used to:

  • decarbonise the diesel-reliant towns of Hopetoun and Norseman; and
  • supply future 3rd generation ‘zero diesel’ standalone power systems in the region.

This project was delivered through Horizon Power’s Integrated Resource Planning framework, which takes account of stakeholder and community feedback, demand and energy forecasting, engineering and financial modelling, market testing and land assessments, amongst other factors.

Horizon Power engaged with the communities of Esperance, Hopetoun, and Norseman in 2022 to discuss the project.

The investigation was undertaken in three stages:

  • Stage One: end May 2022 to conclude broad options assessment
  • Stage Two: end November 2022 to refine a preferred model for exploration
  • Stage Three: end May 2023 to have concluded a market assessment of a preferred option, should this be considered worthwhile

In July 2021, the study received AUD$700,000 in funding from the Federal Government’s Regional and Remote Communities Reliability Fund (Round Two Award).

The study has been completed and no action is contemplated as at end June 2023.

 

Updated: June 2023