Hexagon Energy Materials has formally entered into an agreement with Genesis, a wholly owned Technip Energies company, for the pre-feasibility studies (PFSs) pertaining to the Pedirka Blue Hydrogen Project (Pedirka). The scope of Pedirka’s PFS, which Hexagon plans to deliver this year, covers all aspects of the project business case, from coal feedstock extraction through to transport of product to port.

The Genesis agreement is part of Hexagon’s efforts to assemble a project team with expertise covering all aspects of the business case for Pedirka. A number of targeted project-related studies have been prioritized including: 

• Construction strategies
• Power for the facility (including renewable energy options)
• Water supply
• Waste and bi-product treatment and management
• Finalization of technology for each process of gasification, air separation and ammonia
  synthesis
• CO₂ Injection locations
• Transportation solutions for coal, CO₂ and ammonia
• Rail infrastructure for mine, plant and port

Specifically, Genesis has been tasked with performing a full technical assessment of the potential concepts for development of the Pedirka Project, to identify and/or quantify:  

• Technical requirements
• Project risks and opportunities
• Scope for further development
• Capital expenditure estimates (as per Association for the Advancement of Cost Engineering
  (AACE) Recommended Practices).

Genesis engagement could go beyond pre-feasibility work

Within Hexagon’s Energy transition framework, Genesis is also ideally positioned to act as a project integrator to support Hexagon`s vision to become a major player in the emerging hydrogen industry. Genesis will additionally support Hexagon’s vision by maximizing the economic opportunity and enhance the connectivity of the hydrogen economy in Australia. 

What the evolving Pedirka Project entails

The Pedirka Blue Hydrogen Project is located some 200 km south east of Alice Springs in Australia’s Northern Territory. The blue hydrogen that could flow from this project would play a key role in the transition to decarbonization both in Australia and overseas.  

The project team for Pedirka is now being tasked with proving up Hexagon’s plans to utilize a conventional surface gasification plant to produce blue hydrogen for export and domestic markets with ‘clean’ zero carbon emissions. The Pedirka project is conveniently located with respect to oil and gas infrastructure, to offer unique advantages for large scale hydrogen gas production with carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS).