Frontier Energy Limited has signed a Collaboration Agreement with AGIG to inject an agreed amount of hydrogen into the Mainline South section of the Dampier to Bunbury Natural Gas Pipeline (DBNGP).
Frontier and AGIG will also make a joint submission to the relevant departments of the Western Australian (WA) Government regarding the hydrogen injection.
“We have been working with AGIG in relation to the injection of hydrogen from our Bristol Springs Project into the DBNGP. Formalising our relationship is an important step in the process of developing the hydrogen economy in WA. Given our proximity to DBNGP, it is a win-win for all stakeholders and ensures we are a step closer to contributing to the State’s goal of delivering up to 10% hydrogen in the gas networks by 2030,” Frontier Managing Director Sam Lee Mohan said.
The federal and state governments have begun amending national gas laws and regulations to incorporate hydrogen blends, biomethane, and other renewable gases within the national gas regulatory framework. The amendments are expected to be concluded by the beginning of 2024.
After receiving the requisite approvals and licences, AGIG and Frontier intend to discuss the type of arrangements that could be put in place to permit the injection of an agreed-upon percentage of hydrogen into the DBNGP. Together, the stakeholders will conduct a FEED Study for the injection facility and hydrogen blending station.
According to Frontier, the DBNGP is the most significant gas transmission asset in WA and supplies the State with natural gas. A potential connection point to the DBNGP is less than 0.3 kilometres from the proposed location of the hydrogen facility, where the DBNGP branches off to supply gas to Alcoa’s Wagerup Alumina Refinery.
In the first quarter of 2022, AGIG published its technical study on the DBNGP to investigate the introduction of hydrogen into the pipeline. The WA Government partially funded the Study.
The Study determined that up to 9% (by volume) of hydrogen can be injected into the south-west section of the DBNGP, also known as Mainline South – the primary trunkline between Kwinana and Bunbury.
Mainline South and its associated lateral pipelines are “immediate candidates” for admitting hydrogen, pending the installation of additional gas analysis apparatus and reconfiguration of flow computers, supervisory control and data acquisition systems, and gas accounting systems.
When minimum daily gas volumes of 250 TJ are reached, Stage One of the Project will contribute less than 1% of energy to the DBNGP.
“The WA Government has been supportive of the green hydrogen industry however the current state of legislative frameworks and intended amendments requires acceleration. To have a tangible project located on a section of the DBNGP that is immediately available for hydrogen injection and working with Government on legislative amendments will streamline and deliver the necessary change required to stimulate the green hydrogen industry,” Mohan said.
