Contributed by Mrs Alana Barlow, Hydrogen Dept, Business Development Division, SAPL

August – September 2021

Australia

Sumitomo Corporation (SC) is designing and taking steps to deliver a “local first” hydrogen ecosystem in Gladstone, Australia, on our journey towards clean energy exports to Japan and beyond.

So what is needed to design a hydrogen ecosystem?

It takes a community; it takes passion; and it takes a vision and a plan.

SC engaged international design house IDEO to consult with the Gladstone community and created a vision for Gladstone as a net-zero carbon emissions region with a thriving hydrogen ecosystem. SC also engaged globally renowned architectural firm ARUP to create a project charter and preliminary masterplan to achieve this vision.

IDEO and ARUP have now completed their vision and plan respectively, co-creating a vision for the future of Gladstone with the local people, for the local people.

The philosophy is simple; we need to transform Gladstone from the industrial powerhouse of Australia, to a globally famous city which leads the world towards net zero, with a world that knows:

Beyond the vision and plan, SC is already taking steps to realise Gladstone, as the green capital of Australia.

• In January 2021, SC announced that it was undertaking front-end engineering and design study for a 2MW electrolyser to be installed in Gladstone, to generate green hydrogen for local use.
• In March 2021, SC signed a Gladstone Hydrogen Ecosystem with key players in the region, supported by the Queensland Government. Partners include Gladstone Ports Corporation, Gladstone Regional Council, Australian Gas Infrastructure Group, Central Queensland University, and most recently CleanCo Queensland.
• In June 2021, SC developed a consortia for an Australian-first hydrogen mobility project, including a public bus and passenger vehicles. Subject to government grants, this should be operational by end of 2022.
• In August 2021, SC signed a letter of intent (LOI) with long-time partner, Rio Tinto to locate SC’s 2MW electrolyser at Rio Tinto’s Yarwun Refinery. Rio Tinto majority owns two alumina refineries and an alumina smelter in Gladstone. This LOI is a first step towards decarbonising aluminium, for a net-zero world.
• In September and October 2021, SAPL’s hydrogen team began a “roadshow” of the work completed by IDEO and ARUP. The vision of a net-zero Gladstone, with shared climate-positive prosperity has been warmly received by all levels of government, industry and community.

I was also honoured to be a key-note speaker at the 2021 CQH2 Hydrogen Forum in Gladstone on 8 October 2021, and share the IDEO vision and ARUP work publically. It was the most talked about presentation material for the day, and part of it was recorded and broadcast on national radio the following week, positioning SC as a leader in hydrogen.

To create a hydrogen ecosystem is truly a group effort, involving collaboration among Government, Local Industry, Community, Education Institutions, Local and International Investors. SC is working successfully to facilitate this conversation at all levels.

I would also like to acknowledge that the Gladstone Hydrogen Ecosystem project is one which truly embodies our company’s motto, “Enriching Lives and the World”. This is one of the lenses we should be considering when we look to do business in the future. How does your business enrich lives and the world?

Click here to see more of the hydrogen forum
https://gea.asn.au/hydrogen-forum-2021/