Leigh Creek Energy lodges patent with Australian Government for syngas technology
Quality syngas is crucial to Leigh Creek producing low-cost carbon neutral urea from its South Australian project.
Emerging urea producer Leigh Creek Energy (ASX: LCK) has lodged a patent application with the Australian Government for its syngas technology.
Leigh Creek plans to generate an Australian source of urea from its namesake project in South Australia, with the operation to be based on “innovative technology” from insitu gasification (ISG) production, ammonia and urea synthesis, on-site gas-fired power and renewable energy, as well as carbon capture and storage at the project.
The company has developed proprietary information from pre-commercial demonstration of syngas technology at the project in 2018-2019. As a result, Leigh Creek has collated a comprehensive data base of real-life ISG operating data. The data has been used to develop algorithms to permit the control of syngas composition by controlling the key system inputs.
These algorithms could also be used to optimise the production of key syngas components such as hydrogen or methane.
“The reliable and consistent production of a specified quality of gas is the foundation of any gas business,” Leigh Creek managing director Phil Stavely said.
“This patent application is to protect that knowledge.”
The quality of the syngas will be critical to low-cost, carbon neutral urea production at the Leigh Creek project.
Adding value to Leigh Creek urea project
Mr Stavely said it was likely to be the first of many patents to protect Leigh Creek’s proprietary information and added significant value to the company and project.
“The ability to develop this unique commercial technology is a reflection of the highly skilled technical team we have put in place to develop the Leigh Creek urea project to produce nitrogen-based fertiliser products for local and international agriculture markets.”
“Harnessing our global leadership in integrated carbon-neutral fertiliser facilities, this patent will allow us to retain our position of global leadership.”
Mr Stavely added the company sees “considerable commercial opportunity” to leverage the proprietary ISG technology across the globe.
Carbon neutral status
Earlier this month, Leigh Creek achieved carbon neutral status for the project, which was eight years ahead of schedule.
Mr Stavely said the status was made possible through Leigh Creek’s participation in carbon offset projects.
The Leigh Creek project will produce about 1 million tonnes of urea a year, with plans to boost this to 2Mtpa at a later date.