Epic Energy selected to support South Australia’s hydrogen hub
The Government of South Australia has selected Epic Energy as a preferred partner to develop the integrated pipeline and hydrogen storage solution for world’s largest hydrogen production facility and power plant.
Epic Energy has entered an Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) agreement with the Government to develop an integrated pipeline and hydrogen storage solution for its Hydrogen Jobs Plan in Whyalla in the Upper Spencer Gulf.
Epic Energy’s storage solution will provide a dual-purpose storage and transmission pipeline, providing infrastructure connections for hydrogen production expansion and industrial offtake to support an emerging industry.
As part of the agreement, Epic Energy will undertake detailed project and engineering design, procurement of critical equipment, finalise contracting arrangements, and cost estimations.
A consortium comprising ATCO Australia and BOC, a Linde company, has also been announced as the Government’s preferred partner for the hydrogen delivery component of the project.
The agreements follow a detailed six-month evaluation assessment of 29 proposals the Government received from companies worldwide.
“The Hydrogen Jobs Plan is a transformational opportunity set to benefit South Australians for generations,” said Epic Energy’s CEO Clive D’Cruz.
“Epic Energy brings more than 50 years of experience in supplying South Australian industry and the community with energy pipeline and storage solutions, and we’re looking forward to playing a role in bringing to life this world-leading decarbonisation opportunity.”
South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas said the Hydrogen Jobs Plan is “a world-leading opportunity for South Australia, that has the potential to rival Victoria’s gold rush, the coal boom in Queensland, or Western Australia’s development of iron ore and gas.”
“We have all the things the world will need to decarbonise – abundant copper and magnetite, the world’s best coincident wind and solar resources, world-leading renewable energy penetration and soon, the ability to harness this abundant clean energy in the form of hydrogen,” Premier Malinauskas said.
“We can use this clean hydrogen to firm our electricity grid, but more than that, we can use it to help reindustrialise the Upper Spencer Gulf, creating thousands of jobs in the process.”
Backed by a $593 million investment from the Government of South Australia, the Hydrogen Jobs Plan is designed to re-industrialise the Upper Spencer Gulf region using clean energy and solidify South Australia’s position as a global hydrogen powerhouse.