A hydrogen future?
James Arnott A C and Nadia Leibbrandt BA KPMG, 235 St Georges Terrace, Perth, WA 6000, Australia.
B KPMG, Tower Two Collins Square, 727 Collins St, Melbourne, Vic. 3000, Australia.
C Corresponding author. Email: jamesarnott@kpmg.com.au
The APPEA Journal 60(2) 385-388 https://doi.org/10.1071/AJ19088
Accepted: 10 April 2020 Published: 15 May 2020
Abstract
Hydrogen is emerging as an alternate carrier of energy. It has the potential to play a key role in the decarbonisation of the energy sector. Governments around the world and in Australia are signalling interest in moving the hydrogen economy forward. Current efforts are focused on developing hydrogen visions and strategies, supported by investments and partnerships with industry to progress technology and unlock the barriers across the hydrogen value chain. KPMG has worked with CSIRO, ATCO Gas and the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) in the development of a Hydrogen City tool (H2City Tool) (available for public download from the ARENA website). The H2City Tool assists users with screening communities that may be suitable for transitioning to a hydrogen-based energy future and provides two broad pathways: a hydrogen pathway and an electrification pathway, allowing a relative comparison to be made between these options. This abstract provides a summary of outcomes arising from analysis performed by KPMG using the H2City Tool, which illustrates the conditions and viability of several pathways to convert to a hydrogen-based energy future. These pathways were: Scenario 1 – converting a large metropolitan community to hydrogen; Scenario 2 – adopting hydrogen to fuel transport at scale; Scenario 3 – adopting hydrogen in electricity grid firming at scale; and Scenario 4 – adopting the concept of hydrogen hubs in regional Australia.
Keywords: electrification, electrolyser, electrolysis, energy, fuel cells, gas networks, hydrogen.
James is a Partner in KPMG's Energy and Natural Resources (ENR) and leads the Management Consulting Practice in Perth. He has extensive ENR and Capital Project sector experience. He has led and supported large scale systems implementations and business transformations. His experience includes the implementation and support of large ERP and Project Control solutions, as well as supporting client efforts associated with business process optimisation, strategic cost take-out, strategy definition, outsourcing/managed services, shared services and new operating models. His experience also includes helping clients with project delivery related issues including tooling, cost control and scheduling and the integration of project support functions like procurement, quality, safety, finance and human resources. Select clients include independent, national and international/super major oil and gas companies, mining and utility companies as well as government departments. Most recently, James has overseen the development of a multi-criteria assessment framework, hydrogen community evaluation model and business case that considers the viability of hydrogen as a fuel source for a defined community. |
Nadia Leibbrandt, is the Associate Director at KPMG and brings 16 years’ experience in all phases of the project lifecycle, including strategy and project development, conceptual and feasibility studies, procurement and implementation in various energy industries. As a Chemical Engineer with a PhD in techno-economics of bioenergy and previous experience in the Engineering Procurement and Construction industry, she brings a strong techno-commercial focus to energy projects. She has worked extensively on energy projects in South Africa, South East Asia and Australia, representing both the public and private sectors. She has successfully assisted clients in developing projects from concept to funding, worked on many groundbreaking projects in emerging energy technologies, and advised government entities on design and implementation of policies and strategies to support emerging energy development. Her area of focus covers a range of hydrogen energy storage interests, including batteries and pumped hydro, bioenergy and waste to energy projects. |
