Opportunities for energy production in the Surat Basin

Commercial production of hydrogen might be the next opportunity for the growing diversity of energy production in the Surat Basin.

Hydrogen is one of the most common chemicals in the world, and advancements in production have ensured that it can become a way of storing renewable energy for use at a later time when it is needed.

Representing strides forward in innovation, it is great to see industry working on new methods to blend hydrogen into existing gas infrastructure by creating renewable methane.

Some forms of Hydrogen energy can be stored as a gas and delivered through existing natural gas pipelines, meaning that it can also be exported and made tradable.

This means that hydrogen produced in Australia could be sold to the rest of the world with a global demand worth billions to the economy.

Last year the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) announced a funding round of up to $70 million to help fast track the development of renewable hydrogen in Australia, which will allow focus on growing an innovative, safe and competitive hydrogen industry in Australia.

ARENA’s aim is to accelerate Australia’s shift to affordable and reliable renewable energy and are helping to build the foundation of a renewable energy ecosystem in Australia.

TSBE General Manager, Lance MacManus said these types of projects could leverage off of regional energy infrastructure and ensure longevity of regional energy production assets that have already been built.

“As we move toward a transition of commercial renewable production, the commercial establishment of next generation energy production such as battery storage, bio-energy and forms of hydrogen production will help ensure the Surat’s title of energy production capital of Australia for decades to come” said Mr MacManus.

“We need to ensure production is linked to transport and also off-take, but establishing production is one of the first steps”

Earlier this month APA announced a new $2.2 million methane production demonstration plant which will be set to be fully commissioned by 2022.

This regional first plant will produce over 600kg of hydrogen each year, which will convert to renewable methane to in turn service regional Queensland and East Coast gas users.

TSBE encourages businesses looking to apply for ARENA to consider the Surat region and understand why it is a logical option and happy to support your applications

Development of this industry is incredibly viable in the Energy Capital of Australia.  

Visit www.tsbe.com.au to keep up to date.