PERTH (miningweekly.com) – South Korean major POSCO and French energy generator ENGIE will conduct a prefeasibility study (PFS) for a major renewable hydrogen project in the Pilbara.
The study will determine the feasibility of using renewable hydrogen to power POSCO's proposed hot briquetted iron (HBI) plant in Port Hedland. HBI is a premium form of direct reduced iron which will add downstream value to Pilbara iron before it is exported.
The study will support development plans for inland renewable energy sites, including wind and solar generation, a hydrogen electrolyser, large-scale storage capability and a pipeline capable of transporting green hydrogen to South Korea to decarbonise POSCO's assets. The study is expected to be completed in early 2024.
"Western Australia continues to explore the potential uses of renewables in the resources sector and this PFS is a major step towards a clean energy future,” says Hydrogen Minister Bill Johnston.
“This builds off our successful Green Streel Opportunity report completed earlier this year, which mapped how Western Australian iron-ore can reduce emissions in steelmaking.
“Producing green steel would make Western Australia a world player in the green industry, with current steel manufacturing generating more than 7% of global carbon emissions.
“I look forward to the outcomes from this PFS.”
Johnston says that with a local HBI plant, Western Australia will have the ability to undertake an intermediate and important processing step between iron-ore and steel.
Being able to use renewable hydrogen in the proposed plant will significantly reduce the global emissions it creates and produce green iron.
Western Australia currently provides 38% of the world's supply of iron-ore, which is processed overseas to make steel.