The liquid hydrogen receiving terminal at Kobe, Japan (Source: ABB)
ABB (Zurich, Switzerland; www.abb.com) is providing instrumentation and electrification solutions to power Australia’s first Hydrogen Liquefaction and Loading Terminal at the Port of Hastings in Victoria as part of the ‘world-first’ Hydrogen Energy Supply Chain (HESC) pilot project.
The HESC pilot project aims to safely and efficiently produce clean hydrogen in Australia and transport it to Japan, in one of the world’s first efforts to commercialize technology to liquefy and transport hydrogen. The project aims to test the production of hydrogen gas through brown coal gasification, liquefaction of hydrogen gas, storage and loading onto the world’s first specialized carrier for transport across the Asia-Pacific.
Construction of the small-scale pilot facilities at the Port of Hastings commenced in 2019, and the pilot phase will operate for approximately one year from 2020. ABB has been awarded orders in both Australia and Japan, winning an electrification and instrumentation contract in Australia and an automation contract in Japan from Kawasaki Heavy Industries.
“ABB is excited to collaborate on this world-first pilot to commercialize technology for liquefying and transporting hydrogen from Australia and deliver clean energy to Japan, while also reducing emissions,” said Peter Terwiesch, President of ABB’s Industrial Automation business. “As a technology leader, our high-quality products and solutions are matched by our global experience and an innovative spirit.”
Kevin Kosisko, Managing Director, ABB Energy Industries, added: “Worldwide, we are leveraging our competency in the energy industries to support our customers in major projects with potential to generate greener and more sustainable energy sources for tomorrow’s world.”
In Australia, ABB will supply and integrate electrical equipment including LV switchgear and distribution panels, power quality components, UPS, end-to-end engineering, project management and commissioning services, as well as instrumentation, motor and gearboxes for the new Hydrogen Liquefaction and Loading Terminal at the Port of Hastings in Victoria. At the terminal, hydrogen gas produced by brown coal gasification at the Latrobe Valley will be liquefied and stored.