APA : WA Government supports APA’s world-leading hydrogen research

Leading Australian energy infrastructure business, APA Group, has received a $300,000 boost for its world-leading hydrogen research in Western Australia.

APA's research proposes to test the ability of 43-kilometres of Parmelia Gas Pipeline to carry up to 100 per cent hydrogen.

Following promising results from the first phase of testing, the WA Government has awarded funding for the project under the second round of its Renewable Hydrogen Fund to support the next phase of testing.

'We are thrilled to receive support from the WA Government on our ground-breaking hydrogen project,' APA Group Chief Executive and Managing Director Rob Wheals said today.

'If successful, this would not only be a national first, but it will be one of only a few transmission pipelines in the world proven to be capable of being converted to carry up to 100 per cent hydrogen.

'With billions of dollars invested in gas infrastructure across the country, it makes sense to look at ways to use our existing energy infrastructure to support Australia's transition to a low carbon future.'

The second phase of testing is being undertaken at Australia's dedicated test hydrogen laboratory at the University of Wollongong in partnership with Future Fuels CRC. The pipeline material will be tested under pressurised hydrogen conditions.

While the first phase of testing confirmed the technical viability of the pipeline to transport hydrogen, the second phase of testing is expected to prove the operational capacity of the existing gas transmission pipeline to transport hydrogen in pure form or blended with natural gas.

Transmission of hydrogen at scale is a critical part of delivering the Australian Government's hydrogen economy ambition and will also be important to support the WA Government's hydrogen blending goal of 10 per cent by 2030.

'The Parmelia Gas Pipeline is one example of where we see potential opportunities in the linkages that our existing infrastructure can provide to hydrogen production and usage sites,' Mr Wheals said.

'The project is being carried out in stages so we can achieve engineering excellence and create new safety standards in parallel.'

The project was APA's first project announced under its Pathfinder Program - a new APA initiative that will help unlock energy solutions of the future.

The development of the Parmelia Gas Pipeline project follows APA's continued progress towards a sustainable future, including APA's ambition to achieve net zero operations emissions by 2050.