Australia & Germany Collaborate for Solar Powered Methanol Project Off Australia's Port Augusta

Australian cleantech company Vast Solar has revealed that the company along with the Solar Methanol Consortium have been selected to receive A$ 19.48 million and EUR 13.2 million from a collaboration between the Australian and German Governments for the development of a green methanol demonstration plant, SM1 in Port Augusta, South Australia.

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Vast Solar claims to be a leader in concentrated solar thermal power (CSP) and it currently leads the Solar Methanol Consortium.

Vast Solar said that the German-Australian Hydrogen Innovation and Technology Incubator (HyGATE) is a funding round with up to A$ 50 million and EUR 50 million available to support real-world pilot, trial and demonstration projects along the hydrogen supply chain. It plays a key role in supporting the growth of the clean energy sector in Australia as well as supporting cross industry clean transition.

Methanol is a hydrogen derivative which has the potential to decarbonise several hard-to-abate industries if produced using clean energy. Vast Solar leads the Solar Methanol Consortium in Australia as Principal Energy Partner alongside Fichtner leading in Germany and is supported by fellow Australian technology company Calix as Principal CO2 Supply Partner and the Australian Solar Thermal Research Institute (ASTRI).

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Vast Solar said that SM1 will produce 7,500 tonnes per annum of green methanol and the Consortium has attracted the interest of local and international offtakers, including major shipping companies and airlines.

Darren Miller, CEO, Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), said, “We’re excited to be able to announce these four hydrogen projects that demonstrate the benefit of global collaboration to achieve a new export industry in renewable hydrogen and push us further towards the goal of net zero emissions.”

Craig Wood, CEO of Vast Solar, added, “SM1 has the potential to supply the shipping and aviation industries with zero-emission fuel.”

Phil Hodgson, CEO and Managing Director, Calix, informed, “Calix’s Leilac technology, in partnership with Adbri, will be used to make zero emissions lime for Adbri customers, using renewable electricity and efficient capture of unavoidable CO2 emissions from limestone. At the same time, Calix and Adbri are excited to work with the Solar Methanol Consortium to enable the supply of captured CO2 emissions to make green methanol.”

Calix Leilac technology enables the electrification of calcination and the efficient capture of unavoidable process CO2 emissions.