WA prepares for hydrogen economy

WA government-funded studies into the transmission and storage of hydrogen have identified storage and transmission options for hydrogen in the state.

A feasibility study outlines a pathway for declaring sections of the Dampier to Bunbury natural gas pipeline suitable for the addition of up to nine per cent hydrogen with natural gas to form a blend.

And a second report identifies seven onshore depleted gas and oil fields as good candidates for hydrogen storage projects.

Hydrogen industry minister Alannah MacTiernan outlined the reports’ findings in a speech yesterday to the third Hydrogen Production, Storage, and Infrastructure Development Global Summit, which is being held virtually from January 19 to 20.

Prepared by DBNGP (WA) Nominees Pty Ltd, the Dampier to Bunbury Natural Gas Pipeline Hydrogen Feasibility Study outlines a pathway for declaring sections of the pipeline suitable for hydrogen/natural gas blends.

This pathway includes material testing, investigating additional operational constraints and a realignment of regulatory and commercial frameworks.

The feasibility study received $216,000 in grant funding from the state’s Renewable Hydrogen Fund.

The government has also released the Stage 1 report of its study into the hydrogen storage potential of depleted oil and gas fields in WA.

Commissioned by the Geological Survey of Western Australia (GSWA), and prepared by RISC Advisory, the Stage 1 report identifies seven onshore fields as good candidates for hydrogen storage projects.

The results of the report will inform Stage 2 of the study, which will involve 3D modelling of a small section of the candidate fields identified.

The study was funded through the WA Recovery Plan, which included $1 million for identifying locations suitable for hydrogen storage.

Hydrogen industry minister Alannah MacTiernan said: “The WA Government has committed $160 million to making sure Western Australia reaches it potential and becomes a global supplier of renewable hydrogen.

“As we start producing more and more hydrogen, we need to know how we are going to safely move and store it around the State.”

The Stage 1 report is available here.

The public knowledge sharing report for the Dampier to Bunbury Natural Gas Pipeline Hydrogen Feasibility Study is available here.

Picture: Australian Gas Infrastructure Group/Dampier to Bunbury Natural Gas Pipeline

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