The South Australian government is making sure to have a green energy future and combat the worsening effects of climate change with the construction of the world's biggest green electrolyzer and hydrogen power plant.
(Photo : ETIENNE BALMER/AFP via Getty Images)
This picture taken on October 26, 2020 shows a 2,500 cubic-meter tank containing liquid hydrogen at Kobe Port Island plant in Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture, where a special shipping terminal has been built in order to import liquid hydrogen from Australia.
Ten Times Bigger than Counterparts
As reported first by Renew Economy, South Australia plans to build a 250MW hydrogen electrolyzer, making it ten times larger than its counterparts. The electrolyzer will then be fed into a 200MW hydrogen power plant, the biggest of its kind as well.
The ambitious green project will be headed by Sam Crafter, the CEO of the Office of Hydrogen Power in South Australia. He is known for leading the task force of installing the original Tesla big battery, 100 times larger than what the Australian Energy Market had predicted, a few months ago.
Crafter believes that if he could head an equally ambitious project such as Tesla's, he could also do the same for the massive electrolyzer and hydrogen power plant. He noted that the Tesla battery was a success with the help of a crucial government contract, Tesla's funds, and the help of international teams spearheaded by battery owner Neoen and the automaker itself.
The successful battery project is now known as the Hornsdale Power Reserve, which is currently powering the country's grid. Crafter hopes to do the same for the Whyalla green hydrogen project with around $600 million in funding from the South Australian government.
According to Renew Economy, the project is currently attracting the interest of many tech companies, project developers, and hydrogen customers from around the world. Crafter said that by leading this project, South Australia would welcome the international industry to take part and create even bigger projects at the city of Whyalla and the Port Bonython green hydrogen hub.
Dispatchable Power
Frontier Economics, a London-based company, has provided some modeling for the electrolyzer and power plant's possible operation. The power plant will be more flexible and capable of supplying electricity at times of high demand and expense.
Crafter notes that currently, over 69 percent of South Australia's energy comes from wind and solar sources. In the upcoming years, it is projected that this number will approach 100%.
Hence, Crafter said that more dispatchable power is needed.
According to several analysts, battery storage powered by wind and solar, is a more effective and economical solution to fulfill short-term dispatchable needs, while other technologies like pumped hydro can address long-term and seasonal issues.
However, pumped hydro is challenging because of its costs and the time needed for construction. This is why South Australia is banking on green hydrogen and making it more expansive in the country.
The South Australian government will begin accepting proposals for the hydrogen power plant project in March and hopes to have it operational by 2025.
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