Provaris Energy Ltd (ASX:PV1, OTC:GBBLF) continues to advance its Tiwi H2 green hydrogen export project in the Tiwi Islands of Australia's Northern Territory, with the completion of the design feasibility report for the proposed solar farm and transmission system.
The report by CE Partners advances the concept design of the solar farm and transmission system to a 30% level, which provides the basis for optioneering and design optimisation.
Feasibility report
The report's key findings have revealed that the proposed 2,640-hectare Solar Precinct area has the capacity to support 2,600 megawatt peak (MWp) of solar capacity, with the preferred solar system being a single-axis tracking system.
Furthermore, annual generation is assessed to be in excess of 5,000 gigawatt hours (GWh), which will be delivered via a proposed four-circuit, 275kV transmission line stretching 30 kilometres from the Solar Precinct to the hydrogen production and export precincts.
Based on the generation outcomes, Provaris has revised the expected peak hydrogen production and export volume for the Tiwi H2 project to 90,000 tonnes per annum (tpa).
A provisional allowance of about 10,000 tpa will be set aside for planned optimisation processes, while the company continues to look for ways to reduce power losses and further evaluate equipment design and selection.
An illustration of H2 Export Project.
Land and environmental permitting
Turning to the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for Tiwi H2, Provaris said the Northern Territory Environment Protection Authority (NTEPA) had finalised and issued the terms of reference for the EIS, which had also been finalised for the Federal Government’s environmental process.
A joint EIS will be developed through to final approvals and lodged in early 2024.
On land access, Provaris has provided the Tiwi Land Council with a draft of the project and land agreements for review and comment.
The draft agreements, amongst other things, include details of the multi-million-dollar benefits that the Tiwi H2 project could deliver to the Munupi Clan and Tiwi Island people on a yearly basis.
The company is also communicating with the Office of Township Leasing regarding its commercial sub-lease application for the hydrogen production and export precincts.
Laser-focused
“Provaris continues to progress its Tiwi H2 project, and we are pleased with the detailed work undertaken to date by our Owner’s Engineer (CE Partner) on the solar farm and transmission system and EcOz, our environmental consultant,” Provaris executive director and chief development officer Garry Triglavcanin said.
“The key focus for Provaris is progression of the project and land agreements with relevant key Tiwi Island stakeholders.
“Once a satisfactory outcome has been achieved, FEED and further engineering studies are planned to drive the project toward financial close, targeted for the end of 2024.
“With the support of key stakeholders, the project development program still allows for Provaris’ targeted first hydrogen production and export in late 2027.”
On the agenda
Looking ahead, the project's environmental consultants will continue with the EIS preparations, while the company focuses on achieving a good outcome for land access.
Additionally, Provaris plans to commence the front-end engineering design (FEED) and other essential engineering studies and activities on-site, including extensive geotechnical, hydrological and earthing/lightning program as well as the initiation of solar monitoring.
The company is also in discussions with potential joint venture partners to ensure robust project development, culminating in the FEED phase and ultimately leading to a final investment decision in the near future.
Ambitious project
“The Tiwi H2 project is a first for the Australian hydrogen industry, with the ambition to efficiently export compressed hydrogen, a gaseous green hydrogen that is a pipeline-ready high-purity gas, simple to discharge for unloading, and an efficient delivery model to kick-off the decarbonisation of targeted downstream industries in Southeast Asia,” Provaris chief executive officer Martin Carolan said.
“Provaris welcomes the Federal Government’s recent announcement of the Hydrogen Headstart funding program for export projects and looks forward to participating in the consultation and future growth of such subsidy schemes designed to accelerate large-scale hydrogen export projects in Australia.”
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