Media Release
The greening of the New South Wales gas network has taken a significant step forward.
Leading energy infrastructure company Jemena has confirmed the purchase of the state’s first electrolyser which will utilise renewable energy to produce green gas for cooking, heating and hot water in homes and businesses.
The 500kw electrolyser will be located in Western Sydney. The technology will utilise solar and wind power to create carbon-neutral hydrogen gas to be stored in the Jemena Gas Network – the largest in Australia.
“We are making a significant investment in technology to demonstrate the network is ready to deliver clean, safe and sustainable green gas to customers,” said Gabrielle Sycamore, General Manager, Strategy and Commercial, Jemena.
“New South Wales’ first electrolyser will ensure we can develop processes to store renewably generated energy in existing network infrastructure for use when the sun doesn’t shine and the wind doesn’t blow,” Ms Sycamore said.
Moving to a decarbonised gas future
The electrolyser, developed in Belgium and Canada by Hydrogenics, and brought to Australia by renewable energy systems specialists, ANT Energy Solutions, will drive Jemena’s Western Sydney Green Gas Project, a $15 million trial, co-funded by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA). The project will produce renewably generated hydrogen gas for use in NSW homes and businesses within the next five years.
Importantly, the project will demonstrate the co-mingling, storage and distribution of hydrogen and natural gas in the existing network, which has the capacity to store the equivalent of 8 million Powerwall batteries. In doing so, the project will test intermittent and variable energy conversion to renewable gas, providing on-demand energy in the gas distribution network.
“Gas is vital to many Australian companies and communities including the $196 billion mining and manufacturing industry and more than 6.5 million homes. Customers are increasingly looking for sustainable energy solutions and Jemena believes renewable gases such as hydrogen and biomethane can play an important role in meeting the NSW Government’s objective of net zero emissions by 2050,” said Ms Sycamore.
Jemena is also working with councils, partners and stakeholders to ensure public and private transport fleets can access hydrogen for use in fuel cell electric vehicles.
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