Global energy giant Engie and South Korean steelmaker Posco have signed an agreement to collaborate on a major green hydrogen project in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.
The two companies have announced plans to conduct a feasibility study into building a ‘significant’ green hydrogen project – potentially comprising of wind, solar, electrolysers and pipelines–that will supply green hydrogen to POSCO’s proposed Hot Briquetted Iron (HBI) plant in Port Hedland for the production of green iron.
Engie is already building one of Australia’s biggest hydrogen electrolyser projects, a 10MW electrolyser at the Yara fertiliser plant near Karratha, supported by 18MW of solar and an 8 MWh battery storage system, which could also lead to a much larger green renewable and hydrogen projects in the Pilbara.
Riz de Buyserie, the head of Engie Australia & New Zealand, a joint venture with Japanese giant Mitusi and Co, said developing green hydrogen as a feedstock to reduce heavy manufacturing emissions is key to helping cut emissions.
''Australia is a market where ENGIE is actively looking to grow its hydrogen operations, and we’re optimistic that this study will help us progress a second significant hydrogen development in the Pilbara.''
Riz de Buyserie, head of Engie Australia & New Zealand
“Business and the community in the Pilbara can see the opportunities and benefits to decarbonizing. This also means more jobs in new industries and providing a boost in economic activity across the region in the short and long term. Australia is a market where ENGIE is actively looking to grow its hydrogen operations, and we’re optimistic that this study will help us progress a second significant hydrogen development in the Pilbara, to help achieve the net zero goals of another hard-to-abate industry.”
POSCO says it aims to build a green hydrogen industry that can be integrated into the production of green steel in Australia.
“POSCO will do more than simply produce export-bound hydrogen in Australia.''
Ju-ik Cho, head of POSCO’s hydrogen business team
“POSCO will do more than simply produce export-bound hydrogen in Australia. We will add value by investing not only in producing hydrogen but also in developing hydrogen-using industries,” said the head of POSCO’Ss hydrogen business team, Ju-ik Cho.
“Producing green steel would make Western Australia a world player in the green industry, with current steel manufacturing generating more than 7% of global carbon emissions,” energy minister Bill Johnston added. The study is expected to be completed in early 2024.
Source: Renew Economy
