A $43.3 million government-funded Barwon Water project will include a 2MW electrolyzer that will use recycled water from the Northern Water Plant to create sustainable hydrogen.
Barwon Water will supply recycled water to the Viva Energy Australia Geelong refinery for the generation of renewable hydrogen that will be utilized at a Geelong New Energies Service Station.
The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has received a $22.8 million grant from the Federal Government’s Advancing Renewables Program for the project, which brings together a number of different industry partners to operate a fleet of 15 hydrogen-powered heavy vehicles that will be refueled at the station.
The Victorian government also made a $1 million contribution to the project under the Renewable Hydrogen Commercialisation Pathways Fund.
Lisa Neville, the Minister for Water, said the Northern Water Plant currently recycles household sewage and industrial wastewater from northern Geelong to balance the refinery’s demand of 2GL of potable water.
“Through our Water for Victoria strategy, the State Government encourages greater use of alternative water resources such as recycled water in order to decrease the impact on our rivers and environment.”
“The project’s utilization of recycled water for the creation of renewable hydrogen is a crucial step toward Barwon Water’s goal of using 100% of the recycled water generated at its water reclamation plants for productive reuse.”
Ms. Neville explained, “It puts additional recycled water from the Northern Water Plant to productive use and highlights the utilization of recycled water for hydrogen generation.”
Lily D’Ambrosio, Victoria’s Minister for Energy, Environment, and Climate Change said renewable hydrogen will be critical in achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.
“Renewable hydrogen has huge promise as a clean and dependable natural gas substitute, and our government is assisting in the development of this new sector by funding this ground-breaking initiative through our Renewable Hydrogen Commercialisation Pathways Fund.”
Jo Plummer, Chair of Barwon Water, said the financing for the vehicle was an important step toward the company’s objective of achieving net-zero emissions by 2030.
“Barwon Water is decarbonizing its fleet of maintenance and service trucks in addition to producing and purchasing renewable power.”
“Barwon Water will receive ARENA funding under the Project to implement a hydrogen-powered primary mover at its water reclamation plants to gather organic waste for recycling.”
“We are thrilled to help deliver Geelong’s first-ever New Energies Service Station, as well as take an important step toward finding more ways to productively reuse our recycled water and green our maintenance vehicle fleet as part of our Strategy 2030 goal of being net-zero emissions by 2030,” Ms. Plummer said.
Barwon Water is also looking into methods to improve its wastewater treatment procedures, take advantage of water sector innovation, and participate in research and development as part of the project.
“For example, waste oxygen from the hydrogen manufacturing process may be recovered and sent to the Northern Water Plant, lowering treatment costs and emissions.” Exploring new options like these might lead to more circular economy solutions for how we run our water and sewerage systems, according to Ms. Plummer.
