Dr Matthew Stocks100% Renewable Energy GroupResearch School of EngineeringThe Australian National University
The Pilbara PowerhouseThe North West’s Renewable Energy Export Potential
North West Interconnected System
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New generation capacity worldwide
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Solar learning curve(make more stuff and we get better at it)
Solar panels 200 timeslower cost than 1970
10 times lower cost than 2008
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The Pilbara advantage
Australia’s best solar resource.
Within 10% of world best.
Supply all of Australia’s annual
electricity needs
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Wind
Relatively good resource in elevated location for tropical Australia.
Very good wind in South West WA
Pumped Hydro Storage
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High voltage DC transmission (HVDC)
• Transmit gigawatts over thousands of km
• +/- 1.1 million volts• Loss: 10% between Perth and Pilbara• >200GW of HVDC systems• Examples
– Basslink (Vic-Tas): 400kV, 290km, 500MW
– ABB (China): 1100kV, 3000km, 12GW
NEM
NWIS
SWIS
Pilbara exports today
Iron ore • Australia’s biggest export industry
~ 800 million tonnes per annum• Emissions
– 2 Fe2O3 + 3C => 4 Fe + 3CO2
– High carbon emissions from conversion to iron with coking coal (overseas)
– 300MT of CO2 per annum• Double Australia’s total emissions
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Renewable Hydrogen
Electrolysis• 2 H20 + => 2 H2 + O2
Export “renewable” iron or steel instead of ore• Fe2O3 + 3H2 => 2 Fe + 3H2O• Value added export
– Need more than four times Australia’s current electricity production
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Hydrogen enabler for renewable energy exports
Direct export• Compress H2 and ship to AsiaAmmonia
N2 + 3H2 → 2NH3 – 160MT per annum world wide– Currently uses hydrogen from natural gas
• CH4 + 2H2O → 4H2 + CO2
• Significant CO2 emissions
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Hydrogen enabler for renewable energy exportsSynthetic fuels• Synthetic natural gas
– CO2 + 4H2 → CH4 + 2H2O
• Liquid hydrocarbons– Fischer-tropsch process(3n + 1) H2 + n CO2 → CnH2n+2 + 2n H2O– Essential for air travel
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The Pilbara powerhouse• Pilbara has worldwide solar advantages
– Huge renewable energy potential• Pumped hydro and HVDC enable Pilbara to drive
Australian electricity production• Renewable hydrogen enables low carbon exports
that can dwarf today’s– Hydrogen– Iron– Ammonia– Synthetic fuels
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