Siemens enters 5GW hydrogen project
Siemens is now taking part in a project valued at approximately EUR 6 billion.
The German industrial conglomerate will supply, among other things, electrolysis systems for the Murchison project in Australia, entailing 5,000 MW of combined solar and wind capacity as well as energy storage via green hydrogen.
"Australia has potential like no other country in the world for hydrogen production and export — as long as we act upon the opportunity quickly. It’s heartening to see strong recent bipartisan leadership at both federal and state levels for hydrogen," says Jeff Connolly, chief executive of Siemens Australia Pacific, and continues:
"There is a clear appetite for hydrogen around the world due to the energy transition away from fossil fuels and the need to decarbonize industry, transport systems and more."
The project will be carried out through a cooperation with developer Hydrogen Renewables Australia.
When the facility is complete, the plan is to export the H2 to Japan and South Korea. That will take some time, however. Developers are currently in talks with authorities to secure approvals, so their plans can become reality.
If everything goes well, the project should be commissioned in 2028 after three construction phases, the first of which will be a pilot project and will supply hydrogen as an electrofuel for transportation. The second phase will involve mixing in natural gas, while step three will expand the installation to produce hydrogen for markets in Asia.
By that time, the project could supply up to 10 percent of Asia's H2 demand, Hydrogen Renewables Australia CEO Terry Kallis tells Bloomberg.
"We believe that Murchison Renewable Hydrogen Project’s location is the best in Australia for combined solar and wind, making it one of the most cost-effective spots to produce clean energy," Kallis states.
The media also reports that the project's total investment sum tallies to around AUD 10 billion (EUR 6.14 billion)
English Edit: Daniel Frank Christensen
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