Hydrogen-blended gets benchmarked

A nation-leading increase in the blend of renewable hydrogen is being delivered to South Australia (SA).

Australia’s first Hydrogen Park in the Tonsley Innovation District is already powering thousands of homes with a five per cent blend of renewable hydrogen with natural gas – but this is now increasing to 10 per cent.

“Last year we saw this project extend to almost 4000 houses, and now we’re seeing an exciting new milestone, an Australian-first 10 per cent blend of renewable hydrogen into the gas network,” Tom Koutsantonis MP said.

“This just underlines the potential for hydrogen to help reduce natural gas consumption, and emphasises the major role it will play in our state’s energy mix.

“South Australia has led the way on the renewable energy journey, and this project is another example of that innovation, offering another alternative in the quest to generate cleaner energy.”

This is the highest concentration of hydrogen-blended gas in Australia, and underscores the findings of recent research from the Australian Hydrogen Centre, which showed South Australia’s bold initiative to blend hydrogen into the state’s gas networks could pave the way for the abundant element to eventually supply 100 per cent renewable hydrogen through the state’s distribution networks.

“Today marks a huge milestone for the renewable hydrogen industry. For the first time anywhere in Australia, we’re blending ten per cent renewable hydrogen from Australia’s largest electrolyser into the gas network to supply South Australian customers,” Australian Gas Infrastructure Group chief executive officer Craig de Laine said.

“Careful consideration of the required regulatory and investment settings have enabled the renewable gas industry to grow in South Australia.

“We hope this continues long into the future as we have plans to continue to work with the South Australian Government to deploy similar facilities of greater scale and customer reach.”

Renewable hydrogen can be used in the same way as natural gas, heating homes and businesses, generating electricity and as a transport fuel.

There remains significant opportunity for Hydrogen Park SA and other South Australian renewable gas projects to supply renewable gas directly to customers via existing networks.