Wollert could be home to a multi-million dollar renewable hydrogen energy facility if a pilot program run by Yarra Valley Water is successful.
The State Government last week announced it would fund $11.9 million through its Energy Innovation Fund to build a permanent renewable hydrogen facility at Yarra Valley Water’s Aurora treatment plant in Wollert if a pilot project to test technology runs smoothly.
Trials will test the performance of a Victorian-made electrolyser before developing a State Government-funded large-scale facility.
The government expects to create 10 full-time-equivalent construction jobs and four ongoing jobs from the project, titled Hydro Gen-1.
Hydrogen can be produced using only renewable energy, with no carbon emissions.
Renewable energy is used to separate oxygen and hydrogen molecules from water to create hydrogen gas, which has several uses including generating electricity in fuel cells to power vehicles, as well as in natural gas heating.
Yarra Valley Water managing director Pat McCafferty said the trials at the Aurora treatment plant would test the feasibility of developing a commercially viable renewable hydrogen facility.
“This is an exciting development in our journey towards a carbon-free future and delivering our purpose to create a brighter future for communities and the natural environment,” he said.
“The water industry is significantly impacted by climate change and we’re committed to doing what we can to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as part of our climate resilience planning.
“Australia’s goal is to be a major supplier of clean hydrogen by 2030 and the water industry has a critical role in providing a commercially viable renewable hydrogen future.
“Recycled water and renewable energy are needed to make sustainable hydrogen and we’re producing both at Aurora, which is powered by green energy from our onsite food waste to energy facility. And the by-product from hydrogen production – oxygen – can potentially be used to make our sewage treatment processes more efficient.”
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said the hydrogen facility, along with grants for energy storage also announced last week, would make the state’s energy the greenest in Australia.
“We’ve cut emissions by more than any other state, tripled the amount of renewable energy and created thousands of jobs. We’re not just talking about climate action – we’re getting on with it,” he said.
Victoria’s water sector is the first of any state in Australia to commit to net-zero carbon emissions by 2035.
“This pilot is an extension of our work to go beyond zero carbon and play our part to help Australia decarbonise its fuel sources and decrease greenhouse gases – we’re proud to be at the forefront of this important shift,” Mr McCafferty said.
Yarra Valley Water will collaborate with the Australian Gas Infrastructure Group, AGIG, to deliver the program.
