Australian low-carbon fuels company HAMR Energy has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Thyssenkrupp Uhde GmbH (Dortmund, Germany) to support the development of the Portland Renewable Fuels Project in the Portland area of Victoria, Australia, which will help to decarbonize the shipping sector. The partnership will see thyssenkrupp Uhde supply a facility that integrates its established PRENFLO gasification technology with the Uhde Green Methanol technology to convert forestry residue into high-value chemicals. The large-scale project will produce 300,000 metric tons per year (m.t./yr) of green methanol.
The Portland Renewable Fuels Project is expected to be operational by 2029. The competitive advantages of Victoria, along with key strategic investments and ambitious renewable-energy targes creates a unique opportunity for the renewable hydrogen market to thrive. The Victorian Government is supporting the Project with AUD$500,000 in funding for a feasibility study through its Portland Diversification Fund.
According to Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO; Melbourne), the Portland Renewable Fuels Project is a hybrid bio/e-methanol development that is planning to process 500,000 m.t./yr of underutilized or damaged residual forestry biomass as feedstock, and also produce approximately 30,000 m.t./yr of hydrogen from renewable energy sources (National Electricity Market connected, predominantly wind expectation).