January 2020
Construction commenced.
Jemena proposes to build a pilot-scale Power to Gas (P2G) demonstration facility (the Project, also known as Western Sydney Green Gas Project, WSGGP) in order to identify, understand and remove barriers to the commercialisation of this technology. In doing so, Jemena will provide the opportunity for other parties to invest confidently in this technology and create the foundation for a new service for Jemena’s gas pipeline infrastructure.
The Project requires access to a high-pressure gas pipeline, a water source, and supply of renewable electricity. Jemena is well placed to deliver a pilot-scale demonstration of P2G as we own and manage a gas pipeline network in NSW that already serves more than 1.3 million households and businesses. WSGGP will use mains fed water and grid sourced distributed renewable electricity to produce hydrogen to be stored and transported in our gas pipelines.
The Project will:
- ensure a sound understanding and address technical, regulatory, environmental, social and economic barriers to this technology in an Australian context – including knowledge of cost, deployment, utilisation and scalability
- promote the awareness of large-scale renewable energy storage and distribution offered by gas pipeline infrastructure, thus providing additional opportunities for the installation of renewable energy generation
- enable gas pipelines to accommodate small-scale gas injection to support the uptake of P2G technology more broadly (as well as other forms of renewable/distributed gas production)
- provide a vehicle for the engagement of stakeholders in the downstream supply chain (ie appliance manufactures/original equipment manufacturers) to accommodate up to 10% (or potentially greater) of hydrogen/natural gas mixtures
- promote and encourage use of zero carbon transport (if HRS facility is constructed – not currently in scope) to be managed by Jemena, and made available to vehicle trial partners
- promote the project and share the information gained with any appropriate third party.
Project WSGGP will initially focus on identifying and determining solutions to managing the real and perceived technical, regulatory, environmental, social and economic barriers to gas pipelines being used for large-scale renewable energy storage and distribution. The Project will allow for both research in the better management of the real barriers and will act as a nucleus for the communication required to break perceived barriers.
Jemena will make its findings and research available to key stakeholders so that Project WSGGP’s development and results help to increase knowledge of how this enabling technology can best integrate renewables into gas pipelines in Australia.
