BP plc (London, U.K.) has announced that bp Australia is taking part in a feasibility study related to an export-scale renewable hydrogen production facility in Western Australia.
The extensive study will help BP and the energy sector better understand the possibilities of using hydrogen to export renewable energy at scale.
The project will include an initial investment from bp of (AUS) $2.7 million, with a further $1.7 million being funded by Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) as part of its Advancing Renewables Program. bp Australia will be supported by GHD Advisory to deliver the study.
The feasibility study will deliver a detailed techno-economic evaluation of pilot and commercial scale green ammonia production plants in Geraldton. This will include an evaluation of the different technologies and process configurations required to manufacture green hydrogen and green ammonia.
The potential pilot plant will look to produce green hydrogen, using onsite and/or grid-sourced renewable power. This will then be converted into around 20 kilo-tonnes per annum (ktpa) of green ammonia. Once developed to commercial scale, this is expected to increase to around 1,000,000 ton/yr of green ammonia, targeted at domestic and export markets.
The commercial-scale plant would require around 1.5GW of power. This is expected to be sourced from greenfield renewable power generation, enabling the project to benefit from the advantaged solar and wind resource in the region. Lightsource bp, a 50:50 joint venture between Lightsource and bp, in the funding, development and long-term management of solar projects, will provide and advise on the renewable power solutions.