- Australian Vanadium (AVL) has launched its green hydrogen strategy for its proposed Australian Vanadium Project near Meekatharra
- Green hydrogen is produced by using an electric current, created by a renewable energy source, to break water into hydrogen and oxygen
- AVL’s green hydrogen strategy includes using hydrogen in the ore reduction process, introducing hydrogen into a national gas pipeline and for transportation from mine site vehicles to haulage trucks
- On the market today, Australian Vanadium is up 15 per cent, trading for 1.2 cents per share
Australian Vanadium (AVL) has launched its green hydrogen strategy for its proposed Australian Vanadium Project near Meekatharra.
The proposed project includes open-pit mining, crushing, milling and a processing plant for the final conversion to high-quality vanadium pentoxide, which will be used for steel, specialty alloys and battery markets.
Green hydrogen is produced by using an electric current — created by a renewable energy source such as solar PV (also known as rooftop solar) or wind — to break water into hydrogen and oxygen.
Over the past few years, some businesses in the mining industry has begun taking steps towards a clean energy future. Companies like Sandfire Resources (SFR) have gone solar at the DeGrussa mine and goldfields, installing one of the world’s largest hybrid microgrids at the Agnew operation.
What’s the plan?
AVL’s green hydrogen strategy includes introducing a percentage of green hydrogen into the natural gas feed for the processing plant. The purpose of this is to reduce carbon emissions.
Ammonia offtake (a nitrogen and hydrogen compound) from green hydrogen production will be used in the final vanadium precipitation processing. Currently, CSIRO and the Australian Government’s Australian Renewable Energy Agency are working to create a production process that does not contribute to greenhouse gas emissions.
The company said it will also power the mine transportation industry with green hydrogen, including mine site vehicles and haulage trucks. It also wants to use green hydrogen for steel production in the ore reduction step.
“The use of green hydrogen could allow AVL to reduce its carbon footprint and leverage both the economical and environmental benefits of this growing
market,” Managing Director Vincent Algar said.
“The green steel opportunity is one that WA should particularly embrace, with the potential for many jobs to be created and a globally competitive steel industry. This strategy can assist with environmental approvals and in attracting finance partners with an environmental, social and corporate governance focus, for AVL to bring the Australian Vanadium Project into production,” he added.
Oakajee SIA
Additionally, to support the Government of Western Australia’s plans for a green hydrogen economy, AVL has submitted an expression of interest for the Oakajee Strategic Industrial Area (SIA) Renewable Energy Strategy.
Recently, the WA government asked for expression of interest from businesses around the world to be part of a leading renewable hydrogen hub at the Oakajee SIA.
The Oakajee Project has been selected by the WA Government as the site for a future deepwater port and strategic industrial area to service the Mid West region.
On the market today, Australian Vanadium is up 15 per cent, trading for 1.2 cents per share at 12:08 pm AEDT.