Yara’s Burrup hydrogen project green-lit by Environment Minister

Plans for the development of a renewable Hydrogen Plant in the Pilbara’s Burrup have moved forward after the State’s Environment Minister approved the project.

The Environment Minister Reece Whitby on August 5 approved Yara Pilbara’s Yuri project subject to conditions including contributing funds to the Pilbara Environmental Offsets Fund, and submitting an environmental performance report to the Minister and the Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation every five years.

Other conditions included a time limit of five years for the start of the proposal to begin.

The YURI Green Ammonia Project at the Yara Pilbara site is a venture between Yara and ENGIE to construct and operate a renewable hydrogen plant to deliver green ammonia.

As part of the grant provided by the Commonwealth-backed Australian Renewable Energy Agency, Yara and ENGIE will build a 10MW electrolyser that uses renewable energy to split water into oxygen and hydrogen.

A Yara Pilbara spokesperson said the company welcomed the environmental approval for the Project Yuri renewable hydrogen/clean ammonia plant.

“Development of the project has involved detailed environmental planning and consideration of cultural heritage issues through a strong relationship and ongoing collaboration with the Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation,” they said.

“Yuri is a critical step forward in the phased decarbonisation of Yara Pilbara’s existing operations and a leader in the practical implementation of clean energy opportunities in the Pilbara.”

The spokesperson said the plant will be the first existing facility in Australia, and one of the first in the world, to use renewable hydrogen molecules in the ammonia production process.

“The project also allows us to explore how we can capitalise on our existing export infrastructure, while providing a base for further clean energy opportunities as demonstrated by the recent collaboration agreement between Yara Clean Ammonia and the Pilbara Ports Authority for the use of ammonia in ship refuelling,” they said.