Sumitomo Green Hydrogen Production and Rio Tinto Decarbonisation Production Pilot Project (Projects Combined March 2023)
Sumitomo Green Hydrogen Production and Rio Tinto Decarbonisation Production Pilot Project
Sumitomo Corporation has completed its Front End Engineering Design (FEED) studies for a green hydrogen production plant located at Gladstone, Queensland, with Rio Tinto a key prospective offtake partner as it explores the use of hydrogen at its Yarwun alumina refinery in Gladstone.
| Main proponents:
Sumitomo Corporation – production |
Main end-use classification:
Industrial process – refining, with mobility and others uses also investigated |
Status:
Advanced development |
Estimated cost:
|
| Other involvement:
Rio Tinto – prospective hydrogen offtake partner |
Production details:
Initial 250-300 tonnes per annum planned, with scope to scale-up production |
Location:
Queensland, Australia |
Announced funding:
AUD$580,000 – Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) awarded to Rio Tinto to investigate the use of clean hydrogen to partially decarbonise alumina refining at its Yarwun alumina refinery in Gladstone, Queensland. |
Project description
(This project combines into one project description the previously separate descriptions for ‘Sumitomo Green Hydrogen Production Plant’ and ‘Rio Tinto Pacific Operations Hydrogen Program’.)
In early 2021, the project proponent entered into a contract with JGC Holdings Corporation (part of the JGC Group) for the latter to undertake FEED studies for a hydrogen-related project planned for Gladstone, Queensland. The FEED studies were completed in early 2022.
Initial hydrogen production is planned at 250-300 tonnes per annum, with the opportunity to scale-up production. Hydrogen production will be via electrolysis, using renewables-based electricity.
Rio Tinto, which owns and operates the Yarwun alumina refinery in Gladstone, has undertaken a feasibility study investigating the use of clean hydrogen to partially decarbonise alumina refining at its Gladstone plant. The feasibility study, supported by an ARENA grant funding of AUD$580,000, evaluated the prospective use of renewables-based hydrogen to replace natural gas in the calcination process at the Yarwun refinery.
In August 2021, Rio Tinto and Sumitomo Corporation announced a partnership to study the construction of a hydrogen pilot plant at Rio Tinto’s Yarwun alumina refinery and explore the potential use of hydrogen at the refinery.
Updated: March 2023