Yarwun Alumina Refinery to hold world-first hydrogen trial in Gladstone

Resources giant Rio Tinto will trial world-first hydrogen technology, tipped to reduce emissions equivalent to taking more than 100,000 cars off the road, in the gas heartland of Gladstone. DETAILS.

Rio Tinto + Sumitomo

Gladstone’s role as a cornerstone in the growing renewables sphere is continuing to evolve after Australian Renewable Energy Agency announced a $32.1 million co-funding boost for a groundbreaking hydrogen project.

On Wednesday, Rio Tinto and Sumitomo Corporation announced their trial project of hydrogen calcination technology that will take place at the Yarwun Alumina Refinery in Gladstone.

The trial is expected to produce the equivalent of approximately 6000 tonnes of alumina each year, while reducing Yarwun’s carbon dioxide emissions by about 3000 tonnes per year.

Depending on the success of the project, converting the entire plant to green hydrogen could reduce emissions by 500,000 tonnes per year, which is equivalent to taking about 109,000 internal combustion cars off the road.

Deputy Mayor Kahn Goodluck and General Manager of Refinery Decarbonisation Tim McDougall.

The $111.1 million pilot program will be a world-first in attempting to reduce emissions in alumina refining, a process which currently contributes approximately three per cent of Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions.

The announcement came less than 24 hours after the allocation of over $21 million for the construction of Alpha HPA’s second stage of their high purity alumina production plant.

Rio Tinto Aluminium Pacific Operations Managing Director Armando Torres said that the plant was an important step in testing the capability of hydrogen as a replacement for natural gas in Queensland alumina refineries.

“We are proud to be developing this new technology here in Gladstone, in partnership with Sumitomo Corporation, and with support from ARENA,” said Mr Torres.

General Manager of H2 Business Department at Sumimoto, Ko Watanabe and Armando Torres.

The project will consist of an on-site electrolyser, owned and operated by Sumitomo Corporation, which will directly supply the Yarwun site with hydrogen.

The electrolyser will have a production capacity of more than 250 tonnes of hydrogen per annum, and will work towards keeping current industry jobs relevant during the transition to renewable energy.

Rio Tinto will conduct a series of tests under different operating conditions to validate suitability and performance.

Gladstone Region Mayor Matt Burnett welcomed the announcement while in Japan on a trade mission with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, discussing regional Queensland’s potential in the growing renewables industry.

“Today’s announcement also demonstrates how major industry, in particular Rio Tinto, is looking at ways to maintain Gladstone’s proud industrial heritage into a new decarbonised future,” Mr Burnett said.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Gladstone Mayor Matt Burnett met with ENEOS, Sumitomo and Mitsubishi Gas in Japan.

If the venture proves successful, the program could pave the way for adoption of the technology on a global scale.

Construction will start in 2024, with the hydrogen plant and calciner expected to be operational by 2025.

Originally published as Yarwun Alumina Refinery to hold world-first hydrogen trial in Gladstone