Global Energy Ventures starts preparing environmental submission for Tiwi green hydrogen export project
Global Energy Ventures will focus on environmental permitting as it will likely drive the overall timing of the NT project.
Energy transition company Global Energy Ventures (ASX: GEV) has announced this year’s development program for its Tiwi green hydrogen project in the Northern Territory is underway with an initial focus on environmental permitting.
The company has engaged Darwin-based EcOz Environmental Services to prepare the environmental referral submission for lodgement with the NT Environment Protection Authority (NT EPA) in the first half of 2022.
Global Energy Ventures executive director and chief development officer Garry Triglavcanin said the referral submission is an important step forward as the environmental process is likely to drive the project schedule.
“There are a number of key environmental studies that can only be conducted during the current wet season,” he added.
The company has also engaged consulting firms ILF Consulting Engineers and Jacobs Group to prepare engineering studies supporting the referral submission, covering the key areas of solar generation, power transmission (including the transmission line route) as well as water desalination to supply pure water to the electrolysis plant.
The engagement of ILF follows the company’s previously announced memorandum of understanding with the company in Germany.
Tiwi green hydrogen project
Global Energy Ventures first unveiled plans to develop the 2.8-gigawatt green hydrogen export project off Tiwi Islands last October.
The project is proposing to deliver a fully integrated green hydrogen production and export supply chain, starting with a fleet of the company’s 430-tonne compressed hydrogen ships, with a view to export up to 100,000t per annum into the Asia Pacific region.
Development is being planned as phased approach with the first phase to comprise 0.5GW of installed solar generation, which would expand to 2.8GW as the regional hydrogen market grows.
In November, the company announced it had raised $12 million through a share placement to accelerate development of the project.
It today confirmed its 2022 development program is fully funded following the capital raising.
Low environmental footprint
Global Energy Ventures will continue to pursue a low environmental footprint for the Tiwi hydrogen project with the proposed solar site planned to be constructed on existing plantation land and the hydrogen production, compression and loading facilities proposed to be built on existing industrial precinct/existing port area.
The engagements of Jacobs and ILF will address two important environmental impact areas of the project, being the brine discharge from the proposed desalination plant and the environmental impact of clearing some 30 kilometres for the transmission line corridor.
The referral submission is expected to provide sufficient information to the NT EPA to enable a decision on the level of assessment required for the project.
The company is anticipating lodging its submission in the first half of 2022.
Further appointments
Meanwhile, it said it continues to work closely with the Tiwi Land Council, Munupi Landowners and the Tiwi Plantation Corporation for land access requirements to support the project, including the solar site and transmission corridor.
The NT government has appointed a case manager for the Tiwi hydrogen project to support the company’s interface and requirements with relevant government agencies.
Global Energy Ventures expects to make appointments during the current March and following June quarters in relation to detailed engineering of the solar generation and electrolysis process.
The company is targeting financial close of the project’s initial phase by mid-2023.
Potential offtake targets in the Singapore, Japan, Korea and Indonesian markets are also being identified.