Frontier Energy and AGIG to inject up to 9% hydrogen into DBNGP
Frontier Energy (ASX: FEH) and the Australian Gas Infrastructure Group (AGIG) have announced they will work together on a project which will inject specified quantities of hydrogen from Frontier’s Bristol Springs project in Western Australia into the Dampier to Bunbury natural gas pipeline (DBNGP).
The DBNGP is the major gas pipeline connecting the North West Shelf gas fields near Dampier with markets principally located in the southwest of the state, terminating at Bunbury.
Feasibility study
Owner AGIG completed a feasibility study in 2022 to assess the injection of hydrogen into the pipeline.
The study was partially funded by the WA government with a grant of $216,000.
It found a section of the pipeline adjacent to mainline south (which is the main trunkline between Kwinana and Bunbury) could be capable of receiving up to 9% hydrogen by volume without any major modifications.
Both mainline south and its associated lateral pipelines are believed to be “immediate candidates” for accepting hydrogen, subject to the installation of supplementary gas analysis equipment and the reconfiguration of flow computers, supervisory control and data acquisition system and gas accounting systems.
Stage One of a hydrogen injection project would account for less than 1% energy into the DBNGP on a minimum daily basis when gas flows are at least 250 terajoules per day.
Frontier and AGIG will shortly commence a front end engineering and design study on the hydrogen injection facility and blending station.
Hydrogen goal
The WA government has set a goal of up to 10% hydrogen being blended with natural gas across the state’s gas network.
In October, energy ministers agreed amendments to national gas laws and regulations in order to bring hydrogen blends, biomethane and other renewable gases under the national gas regulatory framework.
Frontier managing director Sam Lee Mohan said formalising a relationship with AGIG was an important step in the process of developing WA’s hydrogen economy.
“Given our proximity to DBNGP, it is a win-win for all stakeholders and ensures we are a step closer to contributing to the state’s goal of delivering up to 10% hydrogen in the gas networks by 2030,” he said.
“To have a tangible project located on a section of the DBNGP which is immediately available for hydrogen injection and working with government on legislative amendments will streamline and deliver the necessary change required to stimulate the green hydrogen industry.”