Oz Real Mulls Hydrogen Plant in Queensland

Sydney-listed gas explorer Real Energy has established a wholly-owned subsidiary, Pure Hydrogen Corporation, to study the commercial viability of building, owning and operating a hydrogen fuel plant in Queensland, it said on May 20 in a statement.

Pure Hydrogen has earmarked two potential sites in Queensland for the plant, which would have a minimum capacity of 36mn kilograms/year. Potential project sites are being reviewed in the Surat Basin, adjacent to Real’s existing 50%-owned Project Venus coalbed methane project, as well as another site near Gladstone, the company said.

Real said it will also assess eligibility for government funding. Last month, the Australian government committed to investing A$300mn (US$196mn) in the hydrogen industry.

“The two main ways of making hydrogen are either processing natural gas or through converting water to hydrogen through a process known as electrolysis. Real Energy’s existing gas resources could be utilised to provide gas feedstock for a natural gas to hydrogen plant,” it said. Additionally, the waste water from dewatering the CBM field of Project Venus could be used to produce hydrogen, Real added.

“Whilst this is an excellent development for Real Energy, it in no way detracts from our efforts in advancing Project Venus and extracting value from our Windorah gas project. These projects remain important to Real Energy’s ambitions in Queensland and we expect to report on progress with respect to Project Venus very soon,” managing director Scott Brown said.