Engineering contracts awarded for Vast solar methanol plant

Nasdaq listed Vast Renewables and energy company Mabanaft have announced the first engineering contracts for the development of its SM1 green methanol plant at Port Augusta in South Australia.

International engineering group Fichtner and German e-fuels leader bse Methanol have been awarded contracts for pre-front-end engineering and design (FEED), with Dr. Amy Philbrook, Arup’s Australasia Clean Fuels Technical Lead, as Project Manager.

Part of the Port Augusta Green Energy Hub in South Australia, SM1 will have the capacity to produce 7,500 tonnes of green methanol each year.

SM1 will be co-located with a utility-scale concentrated solar thermal power (CSP) plant – the 30MW/240 MWh VS1 project in Port Augusta – which will generate electricity and heat, including to power the 10MW electrolyser in SM1.

The project will receive funding from the German-Australian Hydrogen Innovation and Technology Incubator HyGATE to the tune of of $19.4 million and EUR13.2 million.

Methanol is one of the most versatile hydrogen derivatives and, if produced using clean energy, it has the potential to decarbonise shipping and aviation fuels.

SM1 is a first-of-its-kind project that can demonstrate this potential and catalyse Australia’s green fuels industry and a global pipeline of projects.

The CEO of Vast Craig Wood said: “Commencing pre-FEED is an important milestone to progress SM1, a green methanol project that has the potential to make a real difference to the hard-to-abate transport sector.

“We’re looking forward to building on Fichtner and bse Methanol’s strong platform of work to date to deliver SM1, and it’s fantastic to have Dr. Philbrook onboard as a leading clean fuels expert to help deliver this unique project.”

Fichtner has extensive experience designing and engineering renewable energy projects including energy storage and hydrogen, while bse Methanol has developed the FlexMethanol modules which enable economic conversion.

Dr. Amy Philbrook of Arup said: “Arup is excited to contribute to this pioneering solar methanol project, which is poised to transform the transport sector.

“With a strong consortium and cutting-edge technologies, SM1 is well placed to deliver Australia’s first solar fuel project.”

Further reading:
Vast secures approvals for solar methanol project
German funding for solar methanol project for Port Augusta
Vast begins engineering design of concentrated solar power plant

Vast Renewables/SM1 green methanol project