Kogan Renewable Hydrogen Demonstration Plant
FAST FACTS
Hydrogen electrolyser: 700 kW
Solar farm: 2 MW
Battery: 2 MW / 4 MWh
Hydrogen fuel cell: 30 kW
Onsite hydrogen storage: Approx. 750kg
Annual hydrogen production: Approx. 50,000 kg per year
Image: Artist's impression of the Kogan Renewable Hydrogen Demonstration Plant
Project overview
The Kogan Renewable Hydrogen Demonstration Plant is a hydrogen production facility that will be built next to CS Energy’s Kogan Creek Power Station.
CS Energy is developing this renewable hydrogen project in a joint venture with Senex Energy.
The project will include the co-location of a solar farm, battery, hydrogen electrolyser, hydrogen fuel cell, hydrogen storage and out loading facility.
The demonstration plant’s hydrogen electrolyser will only be powered by behind-the-meter solar energy, making it one of the few truly renewable hydrogen projects in Australia.
The aim of the project is to produce renewable hydrogen and provide energy and other grid services while gaining expertise from an operational hydrogen project from production, storage, transport and handling.
IHI Engineering Australia (a subsidiary of IHI Corporation Japan) will construct the demonstration plant, with work expected to commence in the second half of 2022 and commissioning in 2023.
Benefits
The project offers multiple benefits because of hydrogen's ability to be used as both a fuel and as a way to store energy.
- Renewable hydrogen product can be used to decarbonise heavy transport.
- The plant's battery can provide grid stability services.
- Skills development opportunities for our employees and local industry on the Western Downs.
Location
The project will be constructed on cleared land at CS Energy's Kogan Creek Power Station near Chinchilla. Our joint feasibility study with IHI Corporation Japan confirmed that this is a good location for the demonstration project with existing assets (including land and water) and plenty of space for potential expansion opportunities.
The demonstration plant’s water use is expected to be minimal. CS Energy will supply water from its existing bore water licences and current Kogan Creek Power Station operations demineralised water infrastructure.
Hydrogen offtakers
In early 2022 Sojitz Corporation was announced as the first offtaker for the Kogan Renewable Hydrogen Demonstration Plant. Renewable hydrogen from the plant will be exported to the Republic of Palau for a project to assess the potential of renewable hydrogen for use in fuel cells and marine vessels to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels.
Discussions are also well advanced with other potential offtakers in the domestic heavy transport and haulage market in Queensland. CS Energy is investigating technology and location options for modular hydrogen refuelling stations in the South East Queensland and Western Downs freight corridor.
Local skills development opportunities
CS Energy has partnered with Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise on a hydrogen skills mapping exercise that will ensure that existing skills in the region (including within CS Energy’s workforce) can be utilised to support the growing hydrogen supply chain.
The project will map and uncover the capability and potential of local businesses to support a hydrogen supply chain, creating a new online supplier portal. Learn more at TSBE's website.