Woodside Energy has announced plans to ship liquid hydrogen made from gas to Singapore to power industrial-scale data storage.
Global firm Keppel Data Centres is working with Woodside on future supply, including from the gas giant’s proposed H2Perth hydrogen and ammonia plant.
The non-binding heads of agreement signed on Wednesday is for the purchase of 1000 tonnes per day of liquid hydrogen as early as 2030, when the companies anticipate the production technologies and shipping systems will be commercially ready.
The $1 billion first phase of the H2Perth hydrogen and ammonia production facility in Kwinana will be built on 130 hectares of industrial land leased from the WA government, subject to approvals and a final investment decision.
Woodside executive Shaun Gregory said the firm has a proposed hydrogen project for the United States domestic market, as well as H2Perth.
“Liquefying hydrogen provides the opportunity to export energy that can contribute to theecarbonisation gals of customers,” he said.
The hydrogen supply chain would also provide an economic and trade opportunity that supports the landmark Singapore-Australia Green Economy Agreement signed last year, he added.
Keppel CEO Wong Wai Meng said access to a stable supply of hydrogen for data centres in Singapore would accelerate decarbonisation efforts.
Keppel’s planned floating data centre in Singapore intends to use hydrogen instead of more carbon-intensive energy sources to reduce the carbon footprint.
The Kwinana plant, intended to supply domestic markets, will be carbon neutral through the use of green power and offsets, according to the state government.
Planned as a phased development, Woodside is also working with other partners on an ammonia supply chain from Australia to Japan.
The H2Perth project would initially target 300 tonnes per day of hydrogen production, which can be converted into 600,000 tonnes per year of ammonia or 110,000 tonnes perear of liquid hydrogen, according o CSIRO.
Electrolysis technologies and liquefied natural gas would be used to produce the hydrogen, powered by electricity sourced from the state’s system.
At expected full capacity, the project could target hydrogen production of up to 1500 tonnes per day.
Australian Associated Press