Hydrogen Blending
During the last quarter of 2022, for the first time in Western Australia (WA) ATCO blended a small amount of renewable hydrogen into the existing natural gas distribution network as part of the Hydrogen Blending Project in the City of Cockburn (Project). Following on from the WA State Governments Renewable Hydrogen Strategy, which was released in 2019, ATCO was awarded almost $2 million dollars in funding to support a project to blend renewable hydrogen into the existing natural gas distribution network within the City of Cockburn.
This Project commenced as one of the largest of its kind in Australia, at around 2,700 connections, and will see renewable hydrogen blended into discrete sections of the WA gas distribution network within Glen Iris, Treeby and Calleya Estates within the City of Cockburn. The Project will continue for approximately two years, and will involve blending between 2% and 10% of renewable hydrogen into the discrete parts of the network at various times when there is sufficient flow rate.
This Project has already achieved the WA Government’s goal of distributing renewable hydrogen in the network by 2022.
Project Snapshot
Location: City of Cockburn - Jandakot, Western Australia
Start Date: December 2022
Number of connections: 2,700
The use of renewable hydrogen within the existing natural gas network provides an exciting opportunity to reduce carbon emissions into the future. When produced using renewable energy, hydrogen does not generate carbon emissions when used as an energy source.
ATCO has been producing renewable hydrogen at our Clean Energy Innovation Hub (CEIH) located at our Jandakot Operations Centre since 2019. To produce sufficient hydrogen for the Project, ATCO is supplementing on-site solar energy by purchasing electricity, backed by the surrender of Large-scale Generation Certificates (LGCs) to ensure the electricity used to produce hydrogen is recognised as renewable.
The hydrogen needed for the Project will continue to be produced through electrolysis on site at ATCO’s Clean Energy Innovation Hub.
The Project will provide valuable insights into how extensive existing gas distribution infrastructure can continue to benefit customers as part of the future energy mix. Once complete, it will act as a critical building block for our energy future.
ATCO is committed to supporting the development of healthy, sustainable, and prosperous communities in the regions where we work and operate. Through our values of integrity, caring, agility, collaboration and safety, we strive to work closely with the community on various projects and initiatives.
Information for Residents
When the flow rate is sufficient and ATCO injects renewable hydrogen into the Project area network, there will be no noticeable change to your current gas supply. During the Project, the percentage of hydrogen in the Project area network at any time is expected to be between 2% and 10%, which will be blended with the same natural gas customers are already using.
Hydrogen is a colourless, odourless, nontoxic, and non-poisonous gas. When burned, it produces heat and water vapour with no carbon emissions. As we’re blending small amounts of hydrogen into the current natural gas network, the blended gas will still include the same smell associated with natural gas currently, therefore the look, sound and smell of the gas will remain consistent.
At ATCO, safety is always the first and top priority in everything we do. We care deeply about our people and our customers and have undertaken extensive testing on the blending process, and use of blended gas at our facility in Jandakot. There are also numerous examples of blended hydrogen being trialled in natural gas pipelines around the world, including in South Australia, and in the UK, US and Europe. Gas safety advice for natural gas customers within the Project area will remain the same during the Project. If you suspect a gas leak, please move a safe distance from the area and phone ATCO on 13 13 52.
Appliances
Extensive testing has found that hydrogen blended into natural gas networks at ratios up to 10% does not impact modern appliances in Australia, therefore we are confident there will be no impact to appliances during the Project as ATCO will only blend a small amount of hydrogen into the natural gas network at any time.
In future, if there are much higher percentages of hydrogen within the blended gas, there may be a need to change some appliances. However, the percentage of hydrogen will not reach levels during the Project that would require any change to appliances.
We understand that the use of blended gas may be a concern to some residents, therefore ATCO will be offering free appliance and gas supply inspections for residents and commercial customers within the Project area. During the one-hour inspection, an ATCO representative will check and collect information on customer’s current natural gas appliances and the integrity of the natural gas pipes supplying the home and business.
If you would like to arrange an inspection of your gas appliances and live within the Project area, please contact our friendly team online or call us on 13 13 56. If you have gas appliances that pre-date 1995, please get in touch.
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Is hydrogen safe?
As with natural gas, hydrogen can be produced, transported, stored and used safely when treated with respect and with the proper care and handling.
At ATCO, safety is always the first and top priority in everything we do. We care deeply about our people and our customers and have undertaken extensive testing on the blending process, and use of blended gas at our facility in Jandakot. There are also numerous examples of blended hydrogen being trialled in natural gas pipelines around Australia and the world, including in South Australia and in the UK, US and Europe. Our experts will conduct numerous inspections and testing of the Project area network infrastructure and customers’ domestic appliances to monitor safety.
The normal precautions that apply when using natural gas also apply when using the blended gas during the Project - see Energy Safety
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Will the H2 blending project affect my natural gas bill?
During the Project, the blending of hydrogen will not impact on the price of natural gas bills.
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Why would you want to blend hydrogen into natural gas?
When created using renewable energy, hydrogen has no carbon emissions, so it can be blended with natural gas to reduce the total carbon emissions for the blended product.
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Is the hydrogen renewable energy?
ATCO has been producing renewable hydrogen at our Clean Energy Innovation Hub (CEIH) located at our Jandakot Operations Centre since 2019 using solar energy. To produce sufficient hydrogen for the Project, ATCO will supplement the solar energy by purchasing electricity, backed by the surrender of Large-scale Generation Certificates (LGCs) to ensure the electricity used to produce hydrogen is recognised as renewable.
LGCs are validated by, and registered with the Clean Energy Regulator. For more information on LGCs refer to the Clean Energy Regulator’s webpage (Clean Energy Regulator - LGCs).
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Will this impact my appliances?
No, there will be no impact to appliances during the Project as ATCO is only blending a small amount of hydrogen into the natural gas network at any time. Extensive testing has found that hydrogen blended into natural gas networks at ratios up to 10% does not impact modern appliances in Australia. If you would like to arrange an inspection of your gas appliances and live within the hydrogen blending area, please contact our friendly team. If you have gas appliances that pre-date 1995, please get in touch.
Higher percentages of hydrogen within the blended gas may require changes to some appliances. However, the percentage of hydrogen will not reach levels during the Project that would require any change to modern appliances.
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Has this blending technology been used before, or are we the first?
Blending hydrogen into natural gas networks has been taking place on a trial basis at various locations globally, including within South Australia, the UK, US and Europe. ATCO has been working closely with key government and industry stakeholders on our hydrogen future for many years. In 2019, ATCO opened the Clean Energy Innovation Hub (CEIH) at our Jandakot Operations Centre, where we have been producing and using renewable hydrogen for the past three years. This Project is the first within WA and is a very exciting milestone for ATCO, the WA Government and the City of Cockburn.
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What is the timeline for this project?
In supporting the delivery of the WA Government’s Renewable Hydrogen Strategy, ATCO commenced the blending Project in December 2022. The Project will continue for approximately two years. ATCO is committed to ensuring the local WA community are informed as to the progress of this Project and will endeavour to ensure residents within the Project area and wider community are provided with timely and informative information on a regular basis.
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Where is the project taking place?
The Hydrogen Blending Project will take place within the City of Cockburn in WA. Approximately 2,700 connections within the areas of Glen Iris, Treeby and Calleya estate’s will be the first residents and natural gas customers within WA to experience blended gas. This Project will be one of the largest of its kind within Australia and an exciting step in WA’s energy future.
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Will hydrogen be continuously blended throughout the Project?
Renewable hydrogen will be blended into the existing natural gas distribution network when sufficient flow rate is met by the Project area residents. Due to the lower usage of natural gas over the warmer months, there is likely to be less hydrogen blended into the network during these periods. As such, there will not be a continual blend of renewable hydrogen throughout the duration of the Project.
Contact Us
Contact us via Webform
Project Manager: Jim.Richardson@atco.com
Community Engagement Enquiries: Andrew.Gaspar@atco.com