As a significant emitter, Rio Tinto’s alumina refinery in Queensland has attracted federal assist to swap fuel use for renewable hydrogen.
Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen on Wednesday introduced $32 million for a world-leading trial to assist strip emissions from the aluminium provide chain.
“Australia is the world’s largest exporter of alumina and cutting emissions from our alumina refining will ensure this industry can continue to thrive in a decarbonising global economy,” Mr Bowen mentioned.
Alumina refining accounts for about three per cent of Australia’s emissions. Aluminium exports herald round $14 billion in annual income and the trade employs about 17,000 employees.
The trial is anticipated to supply the equal of about 6000 tonnes of alumina per 12 months and cut back the Yarwun refinery’s annual emissions by about 3000 tonnes.
Potentially greening every part from vehicles to beer cans, the mission is anticipated to be commissioned in 2025 and is on the coronary heart of ending the commercial heartland’s dependence on coal and fuel.
“This pilot plant is an important step in testing whether hydrogen can replace natural gas in Queensland alumina refineries,” Rio Tinto govt Armando Torres mentioned.
Converting the complete plant to inexperienced hydrogen may cut back emissions by 500,000 tonnes per 12 months, which is the equal of taking about 109,000 standard vehicles off the highway.
Rio Tinto has been working with the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) on utilizing clear hydrogen to exchange fuel in alumina refining on the Yarwun website in Gladstone.
The sources large, which is Queensland’s greatest vitality person, has additionally partnered with Japan’s Sumitomo Corporation on the $111 million hydrogen program at Yarwun geared toward decreasing emissions from the refining course of.
Sumitomo govt Seiji Kitajima mentioned demonstrating real-world functions of hydrogen in industrial settings was important to lowering emissions and attaining carbon neutrality by 2050.
The new funding, by way of ARENA, provides the inexperienced gentle for a 2.5 megawatt onsite electrolyser, a hydrogen storage facility and a hydrogen-capable burner to retrofit one of many refinery’s massive industrial ovens utilized in alumina refining.
Hydrogen is being testing within the calcination course of, the place hydrated alumina is heated to temperatures of as much as 1000C.
If profitable, this system may pave the way in which for world adoption of the expertise at scale, Rio Tinto mentioned.
Sumitomo will personal and function the electrolyser, which has a manufacturing capability of greater than 250 tonnes of hydrogen yearly, and provide the hydrogen to Rio Tinto straight.
ARENA chief govt Darren Miller mentioned the world-first pilot may pave the way in which for different industries and underscores the significance of low-cost inexperienced hydrogen to decarbonise Australia’s largest industrial emitters.
The funding is separate to the $2 billion Hydrogen Headstart program that can put money into two or three main initiatives.
Globally, utilizing renewable hydrogen may remove emissions from the calcination course of that accounts for nearly a 3rd of alumina refining emissions.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
