- Southern Green Gas and Enapter have partnered to jointly drive the development of solar powerfuels in Australia, calling time on fossil fuel-based energy generation.
- Solar powerfuels are synthetic, gaseous or liquid fuels produced from renewable energy sources.
- They are the missing link to bring renewable energy to the heating, transport and industry sector for domestic and export use.
- The joint project will comprise solar electricity to power an Enapter EL 2.0 that splits water into its component gases, hydrogen and oxygen.
- The green hydrogen is then combined with carbon dioxide extracted directly from the air to create renewable methane.
Southern Green Gas is developing renewable methane projects in Australia. Renewable methane can easily be converted into hydrogen at a customer’s site and be delivered quickly to market because it uses the existing natural gas pipeline and shipping system.
Enapter manufactures highly efficient, modular hydrogen generators using Anion Exchange Membrane electrolysis. Its core technology has a 10-year proven track record. It is the foundation for the unique low-cost, compact electrolyser.
Southern Green Gas proposes to showcase its solar powerfuel at the demonstration project in southern Queensland. The project will comprise solar electricity to power an Enapter EL 2.0 that splits water into its component gases, hydrogen and oxygen. The green hydrogen is then combined with carbon dioxide extracted directly from the air to create renewable methane.
“Solar is an incredible success story in Australia and globally”, said Rohan Gillespie, Managing Director of Southern Green Gas. In Australia, solar irradiation levels are amongst the highest in the world. “We now have the technology to capture solar energy in the form of 100% sustainable methane gas which is more easily stored and distributed than electricity”. Southern Green Gas assessed all the available suppliers of electrolysers globally. “We have been scanning the market for a suitable partner and are convinced that Enapter’s solution is a perfect fit for our approach”, Gillespie stated.
“We are very excited about this partnership”, stated Sebastian-Justus Schmidt, Chairman of Enapter. “The scale of the project allows us to reduce prices for our hydrogen electrolysers to extremely compelling levels. Ultimately this solution could create a major export market, and ultimately allow Australia to become self-sufficient in transport fuels”
Author: Bryan Groenendaal