AUSTRALIAN hydrogen infrastructure developer The Hydrogen Utility (H2U) and Eyre Peninsula Cooperative Bulk Handling have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to explore the development of a Green Ammonia and Green Hydrogen industry on the EP.
The MoU outlines the intentions of H2U and EPCBH to jointly investigate the feasibility of using locally-produced green hydrogen and green ammonia, including the EPCBH's involvement on the production, offtake and distribution of sustainable fertiliser and fuel products on the EP.
The MoU also covers collaborating on the potential for further renewable energy development, attracting research and development opportunities to the region and developing local employment and training initiatives.
H2U will lead system and infrastructure design and co-ordinate collaborations with leading technology partners to develop supply chain solutions for sustainable fuels and fertilisers.
EPCBH will liaise and interface with the farming community to identify and develop the interest in the adoption of green ammonia for fertiliser applications and green hydrogen for transport fuel and machinery.
H2U's initial EP GatewayTM project, a major regional economic development, will be the first, export-oriented green hydrogen and ammonia manufacturing facility in Australia, utilising 100 per cent renewable energy from solar and wind developments in SA.
Dr Attilio Pigneri, founder and chief executive officer of H2U, said "working with EPCBH enhances our commitment to leverage the EP GatewayTM project as a catalyst for developing regional opportunities that benefit the wider EP community".
EPCBH CEO Tim Scholz said "working with H2U enables EPCBH to plan for decarbonised fuel and fertiliser products to support greening of our farming and logistics operations".
"This will enhance the value of the agricultural production on the EP in a commodity market where differentiation and price enhancement is often difficult," he said.
"Our members also see this collaboration as creating the opportunity for green hydrogen as an on-farm fuel in the not too distant future."
Mr Scholz said recent research by the CSIRO and others indicated that 70pc of the greenhouse gas footprint for Australian wheat production in the past five years came from fertiliser production and use, along with transport and machinery use.
"Access to zero carbon fertiliser and hydrogen as a potential fuel is critical for our industry both in marketing our grain to the world and substantially reducing our carbon footprint," he said.
"This agreement is a positive first step in that direction."
The parties have established a joint working group to collaboratively progress these initiatives and support further industrial green hydrogen and green ammonia developments in the Cape Hardy region.
