Australia- The world’s first liquefied Hydrogen tanker Suiso Frontier has arrived in Victoria to test the viability of hydrogen export. It is a pilot project between Australia and Japan. The Carrier will return its journey to Kobe, Japan with a load of liquefied hydrogen. It will be carried through the sea to an international market. Australia-Japan HESC partnership will bring more jobs, new technology and cleaner energy to both countries.
Hydrogen Energy Supply Chain Project
The project named’’ Hydrogen Energy Supply Chain (HESC) aims to safely produce and transport clean liquid hydrogen. Moreover, the project claims to create 30,000 jobs in the Latrobe Valley and Mornington Peninsula regions. Victoria government and the federal government made an investment of $100 million on the project. The project major parties include Kawasaki Heavy industries, Japanese Energy giant J-Power and AGL owned by Loy Yang. Though it’s not possible to carry hydrogen in its originality, it will be converted into a gas from where it is liquidized before export.
Suiso Frontier key feature is a 1,250 cubic meter storage tank. The tanker can carry liquefied hydrogen at 0.125 per cent of its original volume when it was in its gas state.
Project Criticism from environmental groups
According to the environmentalist group, hydrogen from coal releases carbon emissions. However, the consortium says it will not commercialise the project until the capture and store the emissions. Though, hydrogen is one of the best sources that when consumed burns clean.
Moreover, the Carbon net project is another initiative by the Victorian government to investigate the likelihood of capturing emissions from local industry. Furthermore, the government hopes the Carbon Net project can be effective, and provide support for the HESC project if proceed together.
Activities under the project HESC
Continue to demonstrate maritime transport of liquid hydrogen making further trips from Australia to Japan
Regulatory approval processing
Investigate the benefits of commercial-scale project
Preparing a business model for the projects
Refining and testing of biomass feedstock
Improvement of technology used in the project to reduce costs and hydrogen production
Implement a comprehensive stakeholder engagement program
Furthermore, it will continue to explore opportunities in hydrogen export and strong business partnership with Japan. HESC’s vision is carbon neutral hydrogen for the future through extraction from a mix of biomass and Latrobe valley coal. Not forget the CarbonNet project that will optimise energy efficiency in the supply chain.