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Porsche-backed e-fuels maker to build $1b Australian plant [afr.com]:

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Print articleAngela Macdonald-Smith [afr.com]Senior resources writerAngela Macdonald-Smith [afr.com]Senior resources writerJul 8, 2022 – 2.12pmSaveLog in or Subscribe [afr.com] to save articleShare

E-fuels group HIF Global, which is backed by Porsche, has chosen Tasmania as the site for a $1 billion production plant for synthetic green fuels, confirming a take-off in major decarbonisation investments amid growing momentum towards net zero emissions.

The plant, to be located south of Burnie in the north-west of the island state, would produce up to 100 million litres a year of carbon-neutral e-fuels once fully operational. Construction is targeted to begin in 2024 just after financial close.

HIF, which is 12.5 per cent owned by Porsche, flagged earlier this year [afr.com] it was examining prospective sites in northern Queensland, Victoria and Tasmania to build a plant in Australia, with access to renewable energy and strong winds as important factors to consider.

The Australian plant would be modelled on a pilot plant HIF is building in southern Chile. The plant will make synthetic fuel which should be very close to being carbon-neutral when used in traditional internal combustion engines, which are still expected to be used in vehicles even once large numbers of passenger cars switch to electric vehicles [afr.com].

The announcement on Friday comes as HIF Asia Pacific, a wholly owned subsidiary of the parent, filed a notice of intent with Tasmania’s Environment Protection Authority, kicking off the approvals process for the plant.

The announcement on Friday comes as HIF Asia Pacific, a wholly owned subsidiary of the parent, filed a notice of intent with Tasmania’s Environment Protection Authority, kicking off the approvals process for the plant.

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Global HIF chief executive Cesar Norton said the group plans to produce more than 8 billion litres a year of e-fuels in total, enough to decarbonise 5 million vehicles.

Mr Norton said that Australia, which will be HIF’s third production hub worldwide, “has exceptional renewable energy resources that can be transformed into liquid fuels” and used in existing traditional vehicle engines.

The plant will use renewable energy [hiftasmania.com.au] to split water into oxygen and hydrogen using a 250 megawatt capacity electrolyser. Carbon dioxide is then filtered from the air and is combined with the green hydrogen to produce synthetic methanol, which is then converted into fuel using a methanol-to-gasoline technology licensed by ExxonMobil. The water used in the electrolysis process will be primarily extracted from biowaste.

Sales deals for the fuel are under negotiation, with a primary focus on European markets for carbon fuels, an HIF spokesman said, adding that some of the e-fuel would be offered locally.

The project is expected to be funded 70 per cent by debt and 30 per cent by equity. While HIF Global currently owns 100 per cent of the venture, it is not ruling out equity partners being introduced at construction but would remain the main owner and operator through the plant’s life of at least 40 years, the spokesman said.

Angela Macdonald-Smith [afr.com] writes on the resources industry with a focus on energy, including gas, oil, electricity and renewables. Connect with Angela on Twitter [twitter.com]. Email Angela at amacdonald-smith@afr.com [mailto]SaveLog in or Subscribe [afr.com] to save articleShareLicense article [copyright.com.au]

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Global HIF chief executive Cesar Norton said the group plans to produce more than 8 billion litres a year of e-fuels in total, enough to decarbonise 5 million vehicles.

Mr Norton said that Australia, which will be HIF’s third production hub worldwide, “has exceptional renewable energy resources that can be transformed into liquid fuels” and used in existing traditional vehicle engines.

The plant will use renewable energy [hiftasmania.com.au] to split water into oxygen and hydrogen using a 250 megawatt capacity electrolyser. Carbon dioxide is then filtered from the air and is combined with the green hydrogen to produce synthetic methanol, which is then converted into fuel using a methanol-to-gasoline technology licensed by ExxonMobil. The water used in the electrolysis process will be primarily extracted from biowaste.

Sales deals for the fuel are under negotiation, with a primary focus on European markets for carbon fuels, an HIF spokesman said, adding that some of the e-fuel would be offered locally.

The project is expected to be funded 70 per cent by debt and 30 per cent by equity. While HIF Global currently owns 100 per cent of the venture, it is not ruling out equity partners being introduced at construction but would remain the main owner and operator through the plant’s life of at least 40 years, the spokesman said.

Angela Macdonald-Smith [afr.com] writes on the resources industry with a focus on energy, including gas, oil, electricity and renewables. Connect with Angela on Twitter [twitter.com]. Email Angela at amacdonald-smith@afr.com [mailto]SaveLog in or Subscribe [afr.com] to save articleShareLicense article [copyright.com.au]

Follow the topics, people and companies that matter to you.

Find out more [afr.com]

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Find out more [afr.com]Read More

• Carbon challenge [afr.com]
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• Emissions [afr.com]

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Global HIF chief executive Cesar Norton said the group plans to produce more than 8 billion litres a year of e-fuels in total, enough to decarbonise 5 million vehicles.

Mr Norton said that Australia, which will be HIF’s third production hub worldwide, “has exceptional renewable energy resources that can be transformed into liquid fuels” and used in existing traditional vehicle engines.

The plant will use renewable energy [hiftasmania.com.au] to split water into oxygen and hydrogen using a 250 megawatt capacity electrolyser. Carbon dioxide is then filtered from the air and is combined with the green hydrogen to produce synthetic methanol, which is then converted into fuel using a methanol-to-gasoline technology licensed by ExxonMobil. The water used in the electrolysis process will be primarily extracted from biowaste.

Sales deals for the fuel are under negotiation, with a primary focus on European markets for carbon fuels, an HIF spokesman said, adding that some of the e-fuel would be offered locally.

The project is expected to be funded 70 per cent by debt and 30 per cent by equity. While HIF Global currently owns 100 per cent of the venture, it is not ruling out equity partners being introduced at construction but would remain the main owner and operator through the plant’s life of at least 40 years, the spokesman said.

Angela Macdonald-Smith [afr.com] writes on the resources industry with a focus on energy, including gas, oil, electricity and renewables. Connect with Angela on Twitter [twitter.com]. Email Angela at amacdonald-smith@afr.com [mailto]SaveLog in or Subscribe [afr.com] to save articleShareLicense article [copyright.com.au]

Follow the topics, people and companies that matter to you.

Find out more [afr.com]

Follow the topics, people and companies that matter to you.

Find out more [afr.com]Read More

• Carbon challenge [afr.com]
• Manufacturing [afr.com]
• Construction [afr.com]
• Emissions [afr.com]

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