Perth-based Province Resources has referred its ambitious plan to build a large-scale green hydrogen and ammonia project in the Gascoyne to the environmental watchdog.
Perth-based Province Resources has referred its ambitious plan to build a large-scale green hydrogen and ammonia project in the Gascoyne to the environmental watchdog.
The ASX-listed company is proposing to develop a hydrogen and ammonia gas production and export facility powered by renewable energy near Carnarvon, to be named HyEnergy.
To be situated within a more than 595,000-hectare development envelope, the developer is proposing to build the three-component project across six pastoral stations on Crown land.
The area has been touted as ideal for renewable energy generation, with the likes of Andrew Forrest’s Fortescue buying up nearby Carnarvon coastline tenements in 2021.
According to the development proposal before the Environmental Protection Authority, the proposed project would be split across three separate areas and constructed in a phased approach.
Two areas would accomodate the 12 gigawatts worth of wind turbines and solar arrays, and the third would house the downstream gas production and export operation near the coast.
Artist's impression of the wind turbine and solar arrays for the proposed HyEnergy project in the Gascoyne. Image: Province Resources
The renewable power would then be transported to the production plant to power the production of hydrogen gas through electrolysis.
Province said it would be targeting the production of up to 600,000 tonnes per annum of hydrogen, which would be processed to produce 3.35 million tonnes per annum of ammonia.
Water for the operation would be sourced from the ocean and processed through a desalination plant proposed to be located at the production facility.
A battery energy storage system is also proposed to be installed adjacent to the downstream production facility, to help manage the fluctuations of renewable energy.
The product would then be transported via a pipeline to a proposed new multiuser port location close to the gas production facility for export.
Although hydrogen processed into ammonia would be the likely export product, Province said it was considering the option of compressed hydrogen down the line.
Province is seeking approvals for the entire proposal, but said it was likely to be constructed in phases over a 10-year period.
The overall operation would have a 40–60-year lifespan, and production is expected around 2030.
According to the proposal, the operation would require a permanent workforce of about 500 staff, preferably able to drive-in, drive-out with some fly-in, fly-out workers.
The developer said it was currently in the process of pursuing other commercial partners, including offtake, as it nears making a final investment decision for the project.
In an ASX statement last week, Province Resources managing director David Frances said the EPA referral was important to ensure approvals for the project were delivered in a timely manner.
“The environmental work we have already undertaken across the project area provides a sound platform to begin our approval processes,” he said.
“We are pleased the government has acted to ensure environmental approvals can be considered without delaying other government decision-making processes.”
In 2021, the state government announced the HyEnergy project would receive lead agency services form the Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation, meaning the developer will receive assistance throughout the approvals process given the project’s significance to the state.
The HyEnergy project was being developed with Total Eren, under French major TotalEnergies, but the latter withdrew from the agreement in March.
Province has continued the development of the project, and completed its feasibility study for the project in November.
It's also working with Provaris Energy, which completed a feasabiltiy study assessing the technical and commerical feasability of exporting green hygrogen, backed by $300,000 in state government support
