Australian hydrogen developer Hiringa Energy has received US-made solar power technology that will help supply renewable energy to its low-carbon cotton project in New South Wales. Once installed the new tech should boost the efficiency of green hydrogen production.
The technology, supplied by Ampt, uses string optimisers to improve solar power systems. These small electronic devices control the output of each solar panel and allow the overall system to perform at its best, even if some panels are shaded or underperforming.
By improving power delivery from the solar farm, Ampt’s technology enables Hiringa’s GEGHA project to more efficiently generate green hydrogen and ammonia – the core ingredients of a low-carbon fertiliser being used on the farm’s cotton crops.
The GEGHA project aims to make agricultural production more sustainable by producing fertiliser and hydrogen through a combination of solar power, battery storage, electrolysis, and ammonia synthesis.
It received $23.6m in funding from the NSW government and is located at Sundown Pastoral’s Good Earth cotton farm near the town of Moree.
The project integrates electrolysis more efficiently by using power management and storage technology to reduce energy losses. The 27 MWdc solar array and 30 MWh battery energy storage system provide a continuous, off-grid power supply to the electrolysers, which produce hydrogen for ammonia production around the clock.
“By delivering higher performance and lower costs, our string optimisers help make renewable hydrogen and ammonia economically competitive,” said Russell French, Country Director of Australia at Ampt.
“Green hydrogen and ammonia production places unique demands on power systems, and Ampt’s DC power management technology enables us to maximise solar generation and storage efficiency – [the] key to making production cost-competitive,” added Alistair Tippett, Head of Projects and Engineering at Hiringa Energy.
The process starts at the solar farm, which generates renewable energy to power the electrolysers. This produces green hydrogen, which is then used both to run farm machinery and to make low-carbon ammonia. The ammonia is used as a fertiliser for the cotton crop, replacing conventional fossil fuel-based fertilisers.
Once operational, the improved facility is expected to produce around 224 tonnes of green hydrogen and 4,500 tonnes of low-carbon ammonia each year, cutting up to 17,000 tonnes of CO2-equivalent emissions annually.
