Wastewater hydrogen project in Western Australia to get govt funding

Western Australia’s Water Corp will partner with technology developer Hazer Group in a project for the production of renewable hydrogen and graphite from wastewater.

The state-owned water company and Perth-based Hazer have signed a three-year deal under which the latter will deploy its technology to produce 100 tonnes of fuel-grade hydrogen and 380 tonnes of graphite per year. For that purpose, it will use biogas from sewage at Water Corp’s Woodman Point wastewater treatment plant in Munster. Specifically, the technology uses the waste product of biogas that is released during the wastewater treatment process.

The contract was unveiled by the Western Australian government on Monday and will enter into force in 2021. Through the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), the scheme will receive up to AUD 7.9 million (USD 5.2m/EUR 4.8m) in funding. The construction of the facility will require some AUD 16.5 million, for which a final investment decision is expected to be taken in the middle of this year.

“This will help decarbonise the Water Corporation’s operations to further support its sustainability objectives, while generating additional revenue and staff training opportunities,” water minister Dave Kelly said.

The produced hydrogen can be used in industrial and commercial applications. Graphite, meanwhile, can be used in the production of lithium-ion batteries, water purification and advanced materials.

(AUD 1.0 = USD 0.660/EUR 0.603)

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