Frontier secures water for Australian green hydrogen project

Sydney-listed Frontier Energy has secured water access to its Bristol Springs green hydrogen project in Western Australia, it said on September  14.

The company in consultation with state utility Water Corporation has agreed on the preferred option to access water, which is through the existing Stirling Trunk Main pipeline. The pipeline is 3.5 km from the project.

“Accessing an existing water solution is a major milestone for the company as we progress our green hydrogen strategy,” Frontier said. The company expects to finalise the terms and conditions with Water Corporation in the coming months.

Around nine litres of water are required for every kilogram of hydrogen produced. Without access to suitable water, a desalination facility would be required, which would add significant capital, additional environmental studies and regulatory approvals, the company said.

The proposed capacity is 1,250 Kl/day. This is sufficient for a 150 MW electrolyser, some four times the size proposed in Stage One (36.6MW) to ensure expansion potential in the mid-term, the company added.

Frontier said that both the consumption cost and initial capital cost are in line with the pre-feasibility study costs associated with water. The total unit cost for hydrogen production was forecast at A$2.83 ($1.9)/kg of hydrogen produced.

The project is located in the southwest region of Western Australia and is approximately 120 km from Perth and 8 km from the town of Waroona. The company’s Stage One strategy is to develop a 114 MW solar farm to power a 36.6 MW alkaline electrolyser. This will produce approximately 4.4mn kg/year of green hydrogen. The company’s long-term target is to generate renewable energy in excess of 1 GW.

Frontier earlier this month kicked off the pre-Feed study for the Bristol Springs project.