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HyFuel Solar Refinery Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of Vast Renewables Limited, has been awarded AUD 700,000 through the Australia-Singapore Low Emissions Technologies (ASLET) initiative to advance the development of South Australia Solar Fuels (SA Solar Fuels). This groundbreaking project, a collaboration between Vast and global energy company Mabanaft, aims to address the growing demand for sustainable fuels in the maritime and aviation industries by providing a viable pathway to decarbonization. Previously known as Solar Methanol 1 (SM1), SA Solar Fuels is being developed to produce green methanol, a low-carbon alternative to traditional fossil fuels. The demonstration plant will have the capacity to generate 7,500 tonnes of green methanol annually, which could be used to power multiple car ferries for sustainable tourism or short-sea shipping operations for bulk freight in Australia. By leveraging hydrogen-derived sustainable fuel technology, the project presents an innovative solution to reducing carbon emissions in logistical and industrial sectors. The preliminary front-end engineering and design (pre-FEED) phase of the SA Solar Fuels project has already been completed by global engineering firms Fichtner and bse Methanol. The ASLET funding will be utilized to further optimize the project before advancing to the front-end engineering and design (FEED) stage. This phase will focus on addressing technical, regulatory, infrastructure, and commercial aspects to ensure the successful implementation of green methanol in maritime operations. ASLET is co-delivered by Australia’s Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) and the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, with support from both the Australian and Singaporean governments. The initiative is designed to accelerate the transition to net-zero emissions in maritime and port operations while fostering economic cooperation between the two nations. This latest funding builds on previous financial support announced in January 2023, when Vast received up to AUD 19.48 million from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) and Mabanaft secured up to EUR 12.4 million from Projektträger Jülich (PtJ) on behalf of the German government. The funding was awarded through HyGATE, the German-Australian Hydrogen Innovation and Technology Incubator, which supports projects focused on advancing hydrogen-based renewable energy solutions. Craig Wood, CEO at Vast, stated, “We are delighted to receive this backing from ASLET, which recognises the potential of our project to play a significant role in decarbonising global fuel production. We believe SA Solar Fuels offers a scalable solution which can produce green fuels at lower cost than renewable-powered alternatives. We are looking forward to progressing towards FEED with our partners at Mabanaft, and to advancing our global pipeline of green fuels projects.” SA Solar Fuels will be situated at the Port Augusta Green Energy Hub and will be powered by Vast’s next-generation concentrated solar thermal power technology. This system is expected to provide one of the most cost-effective energy sources for green fuel production due to its ability to generate continuous heat and power. Additionally, Calix, Vast’s principal CO2 supply partner, will play a key role in the project by capturing unavoidable industrial CO2 emissions through its co-located carbon capture and utilization demonstration plant. The captured CO2 will be synthesized with green hydrogen to produce sustainable fuels, further enhancing the project’s contribution to decarbonization efforts in the transportation and energy sectors. By advancing the development of SA Solar Fuels, HyFuel Solar Refinery and its partners are taking a significant step toward creating scalable, sustainable fuel solutions. The project not only supports the global transition to cleaner energy but also strengthens the renewable energy industry’s role in reducing reliance on fossil fuels while promoting economic growth through technological innovation and job creation. |
