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Green Energy: Global Energy Ventures embarks on new hydrogen project in Tiwi Islands
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Global Energy Ventures (ASX:GEV) has plans to develop a 2.8GW, 100,000tpa green hydrogen export project on the Tiwi Islands in a staged approach to construction and an initial development phase of around 0.5GW of installed solar generation.
The company expects this to expand to 2.8GW as the regional hydrogen market grows and as GEV benefits from the ongoing cost and efficiency improvements in photovoltaics, electrolysers and shipping.
Dubbed the ‘Tiwi Hydrogen Project’, GEV says it will leverage the “unique benefits” of the company’s compressed hydrogen solution, meaning no requirement for costly onshore hydrogen storage and minimal battery storage.
Financial close for the initial phase of the Tiwi Hydrogen Project is targeted for 2023, ahead of first hydrogen export set for 2026 – subject to all commercial and regulatory approvals and customer offtake.
The result of more than six months of research
Global Energy Ventures executive director and chief development officer Garry Triglavcanin said today’s announcement is the result of more than six months of research, analysis, and consultation.
“GEV has worked closely with key Tiwi stakeholders to ensure the project will have a low environmental impact on the Tiwi Islands,” he said.
“This has been achieved by selecting previously cleared and developed plantation land for the solar farm, existing right of way for the transmission line, as well as locating the hydrogen production facilities at an existing industrial precinct, adjacent to existing port infrastructure for export.
“GEV has completed a prefeasibility level analysis that has identified this location as being highly suited to our compressed hydrogen shipping solution due to its close proximity to Asia-Pacific markets.”
The company highlighted the project has the support of the Northern Territory Government, with GEV set to seek federal infrastructure funding and support given the new, sustainable industry and economic opportunities for the indigenous communities on the Tiwi Islands and Territorian people in general.
What’s next?
The company is set to fast-track the installation of solar monitoring stations at several locations, allowing GEV to establish bankable solar generation data for the proposed project location.
It plans to continue working with the Tiwi Plantation Corporation, Tiwi Land Council and Munupi Landowners to progress securing a Section 19 Lease/Licence over the proposed solar site.
The solar site has previously been cleared of native vegetation and zoned for plantation use.
Work is progressing with NT Port and Marine (a subsidiary of AusGroup Limited) to integrate Port Melville’s operations and facilities into the Tiwi Hydrogen Project and GEV aims to begin planning for a full feasibility to include information on the project development schedule, technical partners, project scale, solar monitoring activities and appointment of consultants.
The project schedule will run in parallel with GEV’s ABS full class approval program for the 430t pilot scale ship.
GEV has and will continue working with the Tiwi Land Council and Munupi Landowners, given the responsibility to ensure that the Tiwi Hydrogen Project delivers community benefits to the Tiwi people, in the form of leasehold payments, employment, and supporting power and water infrastructure.
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