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Gas Transition: Renewable Hydrogen’s Future in Eastern Australia’s Energy Networks

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  • Nicholas Gurieff

    (Priority Research Centre for Frontier Energy Technologies & Utilisation, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia
    Current address: Newcastle Institute for Energy and Resources, The University of Newcastle, University Drive, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia.)

  • Behdad Moghtaderi

    (Priority Research Centre for Frontier Energy Technologies & Utilisation, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia)

  • Rahman Daiyan

    (Particles and Catalysis Research Laboratory, School of Chemical Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia)

  • Rose Amal

    (Particles and Catalysis Research Laboratory, School of Chemical Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia)

Abstract

The energy transition for a net-zero future will require deep decarbonisation that hydrogen is uniquely positioned to facilitate. This technoeconomic study considers renewable hydrogen production, transmission and storage for energy networks using the National Electricity Market (NEM) region of Eastern Australia as a case study. Plausible growth projections are developed to meet domestic demands for gas out to 2040 based on industry commitments and scalable technology deployment. Analysis using the discounted cash flow technique is performed to determine possible levelised cost figures for key processes out to 2050. Variables include geographic limitations, growth rates and capacity factors to minimise abatement costs compared to business-as-usual natural gas forecasts. The study provides an optimistic outlook considering renewable power-to-X opportunities for blending, replacement and gas-to-power to show viable pathways for the gas transition to green hydrogen. Blending is achievable with modest (3%) green premiums this decade, and substitution for natural gas combustion in the long-term is likely to represent an abatement cost of AUD 18/tCO 2 -e including transmission and storage.

Suggested Citation

  • Nicholas Gurieff & Behdad Moghtaderi & Rahman Daiyan & Rose Amal, 2021. "Gas Transition: Renewable Hydrogen’s Future in Eastern Australia’s Energy Networks," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-20, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:14:y:2021:i:13:p:3968-:d:587181
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Vlado Vivoda, 2022. "Australia’s Energy Security and Statecraft in an Era of Strategic Competition," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-23, September.
    2. Adrian Neacsa & Cristian Nicolae Eparu & Cașen Panaitescu & Doru Bogdan Stoica & Bogdan Ionete & Alina Prundurel & Sorin Gal, 2023. "Hydrogen–Natural Gas Mix—A Viable Perspective for Environment and Society," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(15), pages 1-38, August.
    3. Pavel Atănăsoae & Radu Dumitru Pentiuc & Laurențiu Dan Milici, 2022. "Opportunity Analysis of Cogeneration and Trigeneration Solutions: An Application in the Case of a Drug Factory," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-27, April.
    4. Adrian Neacsa & Cristian Nicolae Eparu & Doru Bogdan Stoica, 2022. "Hydrogen–Natural Gas Blending in Distribution Systems—An Energy, Economic, and Environmental Assessment," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(17), pages 1-26, August.

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