The Australian Government has funded the World-first project to turn biogas from sewage into renewable hydrogen and graphite. Australia puts in the efforts to turn hydrogen into an alternative fuel. The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has provided funding of up to $9.41 million (€5.78 million) to Hazer Group for the construction of hydrogen production facility in Munster, Australia.
Hazer is planning to build a $15.8 million (€15,800,000), 100-tonne per annum construction to show its hydrogen production capacity. It will involve the conversion of biomethane from sewage to renewable hydrogen and graphite with the help of an iron ore catalyst.
The company is planning to sell off this hydrogen to industries. It is also experimenting with graphite markets like carbon black, activated carbon and battery anode applications. The facility will be available from January 2021.
ARENA CEO Darren Miller said that Renewable hydrogen is typically produced by splitting the water molecules using renewable power. However, Hazer’s process represents an alternative way to produce hydrogen using biogas sourced from wastewater treatment plants.
“If successful, this project will offer opportunities to replicate the technology across other treatment plants and landfill sites across Australia.”
Geoff Ward, Hazer’s managing director, also says: “There is very significant interest in the potential for hydrogen to play an important role in the Australian economy through providing energy storage, services in grid support and resilience, indirect use as a transport fuel, and as a source of low emission heat and power.”
The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has promised several agencies in Australia that it will help them in renewable hydrogen projects. The projects include a refueling project in Queensland and Toyota’s hydrogen center in Altona. ARENA has also awarded $22.1 million (€13.5 million) to 16 hydrogen projects.
