The Southern Green Gas story
Southern Green Gas is developing renewable methane projects in Australia for domestic and export markets. Renewable methane, which can easily be converted to hydrogen at a customer’s site, is the preferred means to transport renewable hydrogen. It is potentially the lowest cost and can be delivered quickly to market.
The electric car is here to stay. Now that some countries are committing to phasing out petrol and diesel cars by 2040, the fuel for these cars must be renewable to cut global emissions and improve urban air quality.
The preferred transport fuel for electric cars is hydrogen because it gives long distance driving range and is fast filling. However, historically the process of extracting or producing hydrogen from other sources has been costly and energy intensive. In addition, most hydrogen currently produced is from fossil fuels.
Until now, there has been no cost-effective way of making hydrogen renewable.
Southern Green Gas is developing renewable methane projects in Australia for domestic and export markets. Renewable methane, which can easily be converted into hydrogen at a customer’s site, is the preferred means to transport renewable hydrogen. It is potentially the lowest cost and can be delivered quickly to market because it uses the existing natural gas pipeline and shipping system.
Southern Green Gas’ low-cost approach for creating renewable methane involves three key sustainable features. Firstly, the energy source is Australia’s sunshine. Secondly, carbon dioxide is extracted from the air, balancing emissions when the fuel is used and making it carbon neutral. And thirdly, water is sourced from moisture in the air, avoiding any impacts on groundwater or surface water courses. The process is protected by patent applications.
As noted Southern Green Gas and the APA Group, Australia’s largest pipeline owner, announced a joint development agreement to work on renewable methane projects. As part of this, a demonstration plant will be built on APA’s land at Wallumbilla, near Roma in Queensland, starting in early 2019. APA has a compressor station on the site which will allow methane gas from the project to be injected into the gas pipeline system.
“The huge benefit of transporting renewable hydrogen in the form of methane is that APA’s existing natural gas pipeline system can be used to supply customers in Australia, and LNG ships will get our gas to 40 countries globally,” said Rohan Gillespie, Managing Director of Southern Green Gas.
“Southern Green Gas aims to make renewable hydrogen at a competitive cost to petrol and diesel. And because it is renewable, there are no greenhouse gas emissions.
“With renewable methane having the properties of natural gas this fuel could also power households and industry as well as cars.”
Mr Gillespie added that the availability of renewable fuels at competitive prices could make Australia self-sufficient in transport fuels and open export possibilities with trading partners such as Korea and Japan. “These countries are encouraging hydrogen use and also have renewable targets – but they only have limited sources of renewable energy,” he said.
For further information please contact Rohan Gillespie on rohan.gillespie@southerngreengas.com.au or 0438 722 443.
