Hydrogen blended into gas supply for homes from Tonsley to Mitchell Park by 2020
Homes in one area of Adelaide’s south will cut their carbon footprint from next year, when green hydrogen is blended into their home gas supply.
Homes in Mitchell Park will have hydrogen blended into their gas from next year, pushing South Australia further ahead in its national leadership in renewable energy.
The hydrogen, to be produced at an $11.4 million facility at Tonsley Innovation District, will be added to the natural gas with no change to costs for customers.
“The project is a key milestone, as it represents the first step towards decarbonising SA’s gas networks,” said Andrew Staniford, chief customer officer at Australian Gas Networks.
“Gas consumers clearly want energy bills to be kept low but in a manner reflecting Australia’s commitment to a cleaner future.”
The hydrogen will be manufactured from water, using electricity from solar and wind generation.
Subject to final approvals, construction on the Hydrogen Park plant at Tonsley will begin later this year.
“The Mitchell Park households can expect to be serviced by mid next year with this more environmentally friendly gas supply,” Mr Staniford said.
“When burnt, hydrogen — unlike natural gas — does not release any carbon emissions, only water and heat so it is essentially just another gas we can use in place of, or blended with, natural gas to provide energy and heat.”
About 700 households will be fed gas with a 5 per cent hydrogen blend.
Mr Staniford said there would be no change to billing or retailer contracts and users would be unlikely to notice any difference.
“We’ll absorb the extra costs,” Mr Staniford said.
Energy and Mining Minister Dan van Holst Pellekaan welcomed the AGN move.
“SA’s low-cost wind and solar energy gives us a fundamental competitive advantage in producing renewable hydrogen.”
The Hydrogen Park project received a $4.9 million grant from the State Government’s Renewable Technology Fund.
There are several hydrogen projects in planning around Australia but this is expected to be the first to supply residential customers.
Before natural gas pipelines were laid in Adelaide in the 1950s, Adelaide homes ran on gas derived from coal and which contained up to 60 per cent hydrogen.