Project Overview
Project Overview
Long-duration underground hydrogen storage
As more renewables enter the National Electricity Network and coal-fired power plants retire, balancing supply and demand is increasingly complex. Solving the “intermittency” problem is key to enabling the continued uptake of renewable energy resources.
H2RESTORE is being designed to generate hydrogen by electrolysis using abundant energy from the National Electricity Market and storing it in Lochard’s existing underground gas storage reservoirs located in Southwest Victoria.
The hydrogen can be converted back into electricity to supply the National Electricity Market when demand is high and supply is low, like in winter.
We are currently undertaking an 18 month feasibility study into the viability of storing hydrogen underground in our existing reserviors near our Iona Gas Storage Facility
A staged approach
The H2RESTORE Project is envisaged to be developed in 4 stages
Feasibility Study
An 18-month feasibility study to determine the viability of storing hydrogen in Lochard’s existing underground gas reservoirs, conduct engineering and early environmental studies, undertake community and stakeholder engagement and concept design for a pilot facility
If the feasibility study results in a viable outcome, a pilot facility will be developed from ~2025 to 2027 to demonstrate Lochard Energy’s capability to store hydrogen underground
Pilot Demonstration Facility
Stage 1 Commercial Facility
If the H2RESTORE Project proceeds, the Stage 1 Commercial Facility will help support the NEM and improve system resilience and help ease upward pressure on electricity prices. Stage 1 will be developed from ~2025 to 2030 with an estimated operation date of ~2030
Stage 2 Power-to-X is an expansion of Stage 1 and will be developed from ~2030 onwards and will aim to use hydrogen as as a “building block” to generate synthetic fuels compatible and applicable for sectors such as the aviation and maritime industries
Stage 2 Commercial Power-to-X
RELATED RESOURCES
Next - Our Feasibility Study
We are undertaking the necessary studies to determine the viability of underground hydrogen storage