ATCO Australia Achieves Milestone: 10% Renewable Hydrogen Blend for 3,000 Homes
Key Ideas
- ATCO Australia successfully blended up to 10% renewable hydrogen, produced by a solar-powered electrolyzer, into the gas network for 3,000 homes.
- The Hydrogen Community Blending Project (HCBP) is a AUD 2.6 million initiative that builds on previous successful tests at ATCO's Jandakot operations center.
- The project, partly funded by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), showcases the potential of hydrogen in Australia's energy transition without affecting customer appliances.
- ATCO's demonstration hybrid home features 100% hydrogen appliances, highlighting the role renewable hydrogen can play in the country's energy mix.
ATCO Australia, a gas utility in Western Australia, has reached a significant milestone by blending up to 10% renewable hydrogen into the gas network for 3,000 homes. This achievement is part of the Hydrogen Community Blending Project (HCBP) with a total investment of AUD 2.6 million. The project utilizes a solar-powered electrolyzer to produce renewable hydrogen at ATCO's Jandakot operations center. The company's Clean Energy Innovation Hub (CEIH) features a Hydrogen Microgrid supported by a rooftop solar system, a proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzer, and a battery energy storage system (BESS). The excess renewable energy is used to produce green hydrogen, stored for various purposes including blending into the gas network, appliance testing, and backup power. ATCO's Executive General Manager Gas Operations, Russell Godsall, emphasized the project's successful collaboration with regulators and its potential for clean energy transition in Australia. Moreover, the company has showcased 100% hydrogen appliances in a demonstration hybrid home, illustrating the viability of renewable hydrogen in residential settings. ATCO's Chief Executive Officer, John Ivulich, highlighted the importance of regulatory amendments to facilitate the adoption of clean fuels like hydrogen in the national energy mix. He mentioned the confidence of Australia's Energy Ministers in renewable gases, including hydrogen, to contribute to emissions reduction from methane gas use. The project signifies a step forward in integrating renewable hydrogen into Australia's energy landscape and demonstrates the viability of clean fuels in household applications.