Australian gas companies to explore renewable hydrogen market

The Australian Gas Infrastructure Group AGIG, Jemena Gas Networks, AusNet and Evoenergy have collaboratively released an expression of interest to have companies and organizations in the international hydrogen supply chain approach them with proposals on how to deliver Australia’s low carbon vision through hydrogen.

According to the firms involved in this initiative, the first step for them is to seek information on the cost of deploying renewable hydrogen at scale.

Together, AGIG, Jemena Gas Networks, AusNet and Evoenergy represent the largest gas networks, customer base and gas consumption levels in Australia, supplying to more than 10 million people

“Through this expression of interest process, suppliers of key inputs to the international hydrogen supply chain are invited to comment on the feasibility, approach and cost of achieving 10% renewable hydrogen by volume across gas networks in the eastern and southern states of Australia,” AGIG’s CEO, Ben Wilson, said in a media statement. “We believe this objective is achievable by 2030.”

According to Wilson, with their customers’ needs in mind, AGIG, Jemena, AusNet and Evoenergy believe the gas sector shares a common vision for a low carbon future enabled by renewable hydrogen.

The executive said that a document released in 2017, titled ‘Gas Vision 2050,’ sets the trajectory for decarbonising Australia’s gas supply into the future through hydrogen and other renewable sources.

Wilson acknowledged that, beyond the four firms’ individual commitments, Australia has a National Hydrogen Strategy that has prompted significant work towards lowering carbon initiatives using hydrogen. The Strategy also proposes hydrogen blending across towns and cities at volumes of up to 10% into gas networks.