The project, slated to begin development in early 2023, will see LINE Hydrogen design, develop and operate renewable technologies at the site to replace fossil fuel-based power generation. The renewable technology is highlighted by a green hydrogen production plant to provide green power to the Lord Byron operation during non-renewable energy generation periods.
The green hydrogen plant will also provide green hydrogen as a diesel fuel replacement for diesel activities on the site including mining equipment, generators and vehicles. With the mining sector accounting for roughly 10% of Australia's total energy use, consuming around 14.3 billion litres diesel per year, the switch to green energy will create impactful change.
Rather than burning fossil fuels and releasing CO2, methane, and other pollutants into the atmosphere (as is the case for the production of most commercial hydrogen), LINE Hydrogen will be producing green hydrogen. The hydrogen will be produced with 100% renewable energy, using a process called electrolysis, from which the only by-products are drinking water and medical-grade oxygen.
Brendan James, Founder and Executive Chairman of LINE Hydrogen, said that the project is the culmination of years of work to create green hydrogen solutions that benefit all industries.
"Our partnership with Blue Cap encompasses the vision LINE Hydrogen set out to achieve some 7-8 years ago. The partnership will utilise our green hydrogen production, as well as technology designed by LINE to power on-site mining and processing equipment, and on-road heavy haulage. Not only is Blue Cap leading the industry in its ambition of zero-carbon renewable power, this move will, I believe, also lower overall costs of operation, increasing returns from the project. For LINE Hydrogen, the partnership provides guaranteed off-take for the latest project in LINE Hydrogen's portfolio, and also a forward step in supplying green hydrogen into the greater WA goldfields region."
Project and engineering partners for the project have identified a number of design changes to the traditional processing designs to align energy requirements with renewable supply curves along with changes to mine plans and equipment selection.
The Lord Byron mine is expected to operate at a throughput of around 1.2 million tpy, and with the incorporation of renewable power and green hydrogen producing circa 49 GW of power each year, displacing around 13.2 million litres of diesel per year that would typically be consumed in the course of normal operations.
The combined renewable power, green hydrogen and mining operations are expected to result in an additional 150 full-time jobs in the region including highly skilled and unskilled opportunities.
Ashley Fraser, Managing Director of Blue Cap Mining Pty Ltd. Said:
"The responsibility for change within our industry is with us as participants and producers. As a relatively small industry participant, we are leveraging our corporate agility and can-do attitude to adapt faster and more efficiently. With LINE Hydrogen as a partner in this project we will explore, develop and accelerate our renewable energy use aspirations displacing the alternative of fossil fuels with the added benefit of potentially lowering our cost of production quite significantly. It is expected that the project will complete the pre-feasibility phase by the end of 2022, with bankable feasibility status milestones set for 2023 and construction likely to begin within an 18-month period.”