Name of the Project
Yarwun hydrogen calcination pilot demonstration programme.

Location
Gladstone, in Australia.

Project Owner/s
Rio Tinto and Sumitomo Corporation.

Project Description
The project involves the construction of a first-of-a-kind hydrogen plant.

The programme is intended to demonstrate the viability of using hydrogen in the calcination process, where hydrated alumina is heated to temperatures of up to 1 000 ºC.

It includes the construction of a 2.5 MW on site hydrogen electrolyser to supply hydrogen to the Yarwun refinery.

The electrolyser will have a production capacity of more than 250 t/y of hydrogen.

In addition, one of Yarwun’s four calciners will be retrofitted so that it can operate with a hydrogen burner at times. The trial is expected to produce the equivalent of about 6 000 t/y of alumina while reducing Yarwun’s carbon dioxide emissions by about 3 000 t/y.

Converting the entire plant to green hydrogen could reduce emissions by 500 000 t/y, which is the equivalent of taking about 109 000 internal combustion engine cars off the road.

If successful, the programme could pave the way for the adoption of the technology at scale globally.

Potential Job Creation
Not stated.

Capital Expenditure
A$111.1-million.

The project received a A$32.1-million cofunding boost from the federal government’s Australian Renewable Energy Agency in July 2023.

Planned Start/End Date
Construction will start in 2024, with the hydrogen plant and calciner expected to be in operation by 2025.

Latest Developments
None stated.

Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
None stated.

Contact Details for Project Information
Rio Tinto, tel +61 3 9283 3333.