Two boosts for local hydrogen

The state government has pledged $2 million for a Burrup renewable hydrogen project, after revealing it had 65 expressions of interest for an Oakajee hydrogen precinct.

Yara Pilbara and Engie were given the grant for the company’s green ammonia project on the Burrup Peninsula, which would use a 10 megawatt electrolyser to produce hydrogen.

Yara already operates a fertiliser plant nearby.

The proponents have plans to scale up to 500MW of capacity in years ahead, using solar power.

The state government said the project was the fourth capital investment to be granted cash from the Renewable Hydrogen Fund, while a further seven received money for feasibility work.

The Australian Renewable Energy Agency is considering the Burrup project and three others in Western Australia for its $70 million Renewable Hydrogen Deployment Fund grants program.

Yesterday, the government said it had received 65 expressions of interest form proponents to build a renewable hydrogen operation at Oakajee.

Business News revealed the government’s plans to undertake that process in September.

At least 10 of the 65 businesses had market capitalisations above $10 billion, the government said.

However, only 16 per cent of the submissions were to finance the supply chain for an Oakajee project, while other expressions of interest were from technology businesses, utilities companies and component manufacturers.

The government has touted a possible 1,250MW of solar capacity, and 270MW of wind, at the Oakajee precinct, with gas firming to help keep the price of electricity generation to 10 cents per kilowatt hour.