Australia is on the emissions reduction pathway. For gas, this means shifting away from natural gas (fossil fuel) toward sources of renewable gas, including biomethane and renewable hydrogen.
Here are just some of the renewable gas projects and initiatives happening around the country right now:
APA Parmelia Gas Pipeline Hydrogen – Feasibility Study
Location: Kwinana, Western Australia
APA Group is studying the feasibility of converting the southern section of the Parmelia natural gas pipeline in Western Australia to a pure hydrogen service.
This would be Australia’s first natural gas to hydrogen pipeline conversion, and one of the first in the world.
Find out more here.
ATCO Hydrogen Community Blending
Location: Jandakot, Western Australia
One of the largest hydrogen projects in Australia, ATCO blends green hydrogen into the natural gas distribution network in the suburbs of Glen Iris, Treeby Estate and Calleya Estate within the City of Cockburn.
In late 2022 around 2,700 customers started to receive a 2-5% renewable hydrogen gas blend and ATCO will take steps towards a higher blending of up to 10% by volume network-wide in WA by 2030.
Find out more here.
AGIG HyHome
Location: Wollert, Victoria
Hydrogen Home (HyHome) is an Australian-first initiative showcasing 100% hydrogen gas appliances in a residential setting – demonstrating the potential future for gas in the home.
This 306-m2 home replaces the normal natural gas appliances with versions that work on 100% hydrogen and demonstrates the feasibility and potential for hydrogen use in a domestic setting.
The home boasts 100% hydrogen powered hot water, ducted heating, and cooking via a cooktop and BBQ. The HyHome is also available for guided tours.
Find out more here.
Hydrogen Park South Australia
Location: Tonsley Innovation District, South Australia
Hydrogen Park South Australia (HyP SA) is an Australian first and demonstrates that renewable blended gas can be safely and reliably delivered to homes in an Australian context, which is the first step to lowering greenhouse gas emissions.
This enables the local community to start to reduce the amount of carbon produced from using their existing gas supply without needing to change the way they cook, clean, or heat.
HyP SA commenced production in May 2021, supplying around 700 customers with an up to 5% (by volume) renewable gas blend, and was then expanded in March 2023 to supply a further 3000 customers in Adelaide’s south in the suburbs of Mitchell Park, Clovelly Park and parts of Marion. This includes households, businesses and schools.
In March 2024, the renewable gas blend was increased from up to 5% to up to 10% (by volume).
Find out more here.
Hydrogen Park Gladstone
Location: Gladstone Queensland
HyP Gladstone will be Queensland’s first renewable hydrogen production facility to deliver an up to 10% renewable gas blend to an entire city’s existing gas network, reaching around 770 homes and businesses.
This project aims to reduce the carbon emissions from local gas supply. It is now in construction and is expected to be blending to the Gladstone gas distribution network sometime in late 2024.
Find out more here.
Hydrogen Park Murray Valley
Location: Wodonga, Victoria
The Hydrogen Park Murray Valley (HyP MV) project will be one of the largest renewable hydrogen production and blending projects in Australia once online.
The renewable hydrogen will be blended with natural gas, at volumes of up to 10% for supply into the existing gas distribution networks across Albury and Wodonga, helping to reduce carbon emissions from the energy supply to more than 40,000 business and residential connections.
In the future, HyP Murray Valley will also have the capacity to supply industry and transport markets.
Find out more here.
The Australian Hydrogen Centre
The Australian Hydrogen Centre (AHC) brings together industry and government in delivering detailed feasibility studies of blending 10% renewable hydrogen into towns and cities, and ultimately a 100% renewable gas future.
Along with sharing the learnings from Hydrogen Park South Australia (HyP SA), feasibility studies include:
10% hydrogen blending into selected regional towns in VIC and SA
10% hydrogen blending into gas networks of VIC and SA
100% hydrogen networks for VIC and SA
Find out more here.
Regional NSW Biomethane Production Facilities
Jemena and Optimal Energy – Memorandum of Understanding: Optimal Energy will Identify and develop three new biomethane facilities in regional NSW over the next 3-years.
Find out more about here.
Other projects and production facilities
Many other biogas, biomethane and hydrogen projects and production facilities are being developed or currently operating around Australia, including in regional areas. Leading renewable gas experts and production companies including LMS Energy, EDL Energy, Optimal Renewable Gas, Eneraque and Valorify are behind many of these renewable gas projects, bioenergy initiatives and new production facilities.