PERTH (miningweekly.com) – ASX-listed Frontier Energy has secured water access for its Bristol Springs green hydrogen project, in Western Australia.
Frontier, in consultation with the Water Corporation, has agreed on a preferred pathway to deliver water to the renewable energy project through the existing Stirling Trunk main pipeline.
The company told shareholders that accessing an existing water solution was a major milestone as Frontier progressed its green hydrogen strategy, and that the company was expected to finalise the terms and conditions of the agreement in the coming months.
“The location of our Bristol Springs renewable energy project has again given the company a significant advantage compared to our peers in more remote locations,” said executive chairperson Grant Davey.
“Accessing suitable water, one of the two critical elements for green hydrogen production, the other being renewable energy, via the existing water pipeline network means the company does not require the development of a desalination facility. This not only saves the project millions in capital development costs, but also reduces the time to first production as additional approvals and environmental studies are not required.”
A prefeasibility study into the Bristol Springs project found that it could produce 4.4-million kilograms of hydrogen a year, resulting in a cost of A$2.83/kg of hydrogen produced. The study is based on the development of a green hydrogen production facility at Bristol Springs, based on an 114 MW solar farm.
The hydrogen project is expected to require a capital investment of A$69.9-million, with sustaining costs estimated at A$11.7-million. Capital costs for the Stage 1 solar operation have been estimated at A$166.3-million.