3 November 2023
Hydrogen has the potential to provide a carbon-free alternative gas supply for households and industry, according to a landmark new study.
Research from the Australian Hydrogen Centre (AHC) shows South Australia’s bold initiative to blend hydrogen into the state’s gas networks could pave the way for the abundant element to supply 100 per cent renewable hydrogen through the state’s distribution networks - taking the system to net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
The AHC study, supported by the South Australian Government, investigated whether it was technically and economically feasible to use existing gas infrastructure to distribute hydrogen at scale.
It found a move to 100 per cent hydrogen in the state’s gas distribution network – up from the 5 per cent renewable gas blend currently supplying 4000 households in Adelaide’s south under a pilot program – was feasible.
Further, it found such a program could:
- optimise renewable generation infrastructure currently being underutilised to supply 3,230 MW of electrolyser capacity and 6 petajoules of long-term hydrogen storage by 2050
- boost hydrogen production from 550 terajoules per year in 2030 to 34.95 petajoules per year in 2050 – an increase of 6400 per cent
- create 2,204 South Australian jobs during construction, and 875 ongoing jobs.
With hydrogen high on the international agenda after the recent Asia Pacific Hydrogen Summit in Sydney, the results add to the body of evidence that hydrogen can play a critical role in rapidly decarbonising the global economy.
Australian Hydrogen Centre (AHC)
- Read the AHC Summary Report: Australian Hydrogen Centre Summary Report for renewable hydrogen in existing Victorian and South Australian gas networks (PDF, 12.8 MB)
- Find out more about the AHC on:
More about the hydrogen industry in South Australia
Find out more about the development of the hydrogen industry in South Australia at the Office of Hydrogen Power South Australia (OHPSA) website
