Julian Atchison and John Mott welcome everyone to Newcastle for the fifth annual APAC conference, plus an Acknowledgement of Country from Uncle Raymond Smith (Awabakal and Worimi).

To start our event this year we check in with some of Australia’s key trading allies. How has their thinking around Australian ammonia exports evolved? Are some opportunities receding, while other possibilities are emerging?

GCMD recently released results from their much-anticipated study into ammonia bunkering in Singapore. With few technical barriers to deployment, the report concludes that all identified safety risks could be mitigated. The Centre is now looking beyond the report to the work that needs to be done for the first ammonia bunkering trials in Singapore – especially the regulatory, stakeholder engagement and public perception barriers that need to be addressed for the adoption of a new maritime fuel. For our conference keynote this year, GCMD’s Chief Technical Officer Dr. Sanjay Kuttan joins us to explore the study’s findings, discuss the next steps and answer your questions in an interactive session.

What are Australia’s major ammonia producers currently doing to decarbonise production? How can existing brownfield assets be retrofitted to further the ammonia energy transition? Hear the latest project updates from ammonia plants across Australia.

Hear updates from three start-up initiatives that are currently commercializing distributed, small-scale, next generation ammonia synthesis. From the laboratory bench to the farm shed and beyond, how will these technology platforms unlock different ammonia energy applications?

To close our technical spotlights, we’ll be joined by  while ammonia fuel innovator Amogy. The New York-based company is scaling-up demonstration of its ammonia-to-power platform over a series of vehicles: drones, tractors, semi-trucks, tugboats, barges and marine craft.

Small group tours of the CSIRO site will take attendees through ammonia combustion engine R&D labs, as well as exploring the extensive renewable energy generating assets deployed onsite.

When it comes to momentum in the clean energy space, it’s hard to match current progress in India and China. The countries are combining a powerful set of drivers – high renewables potential, legislative support, political will and industry enthusiasm – to establish domestic industries for the full supply chain needed to produce renewable hydrogen & ammonia. Hear from some of the key players how progress is evolving, and what we can expect to see in the next few years.

This session will draw on well-known ammonia mega-projects that are being developed in Australia’s regions, and ask panelists to take a step further. How can these projects anchor sustainable regional economies? What other industries can establish & thrive around these projects? What lessons can we learn from previous boom-bust cycles in these regional areas? What work needs to be done with the local community, and how can these projects ensure their success over the long term?

Thanks to our Welcome reception sponsor: Orica

With the conclusion of the last panel session for the day, join other attendees directly outside the conference auditorium for some drinks & light refreshments. A chance to network, de-brief and connect with the APAC ammonia energy community.

Hear from CSIRO’s research program leader on current ammonia energy and related initiatives. What’s on the horizon for CSIRO, and what industrial partnerships are proving critical to ongoing success?

Get an exclusive, behind-the-scenes update on how this key technology is progressing, and what deployment will look like over the coming years. The update will be presented by CSIRO Project Manager & Team Leader Dr. David Wong and Fortescue Future Industries Director of Science & Technology Michael Dolan.

Work is fast progressing on the AEA’s ammonia certification scheme, and we are thrilled to be able to share some methodology & design updates with conference attendees in Australia. Get a look “under the hood”, learn some details on how the scheme will operate, and ask your burning questions.

It’s not just the AEA that’s developing an ammonia certification scheme: governments in Japan, Korea, Australia and elsewhere in APAC are working on measures to ensure low-carbon products like ammonia can be imported and exported across national borders. How do we ensure interoperability between schemes, and what are some of the common building blocks being used? Learn more from key stakeholders in APAC, who will also reflect on where the AEA’s certification scheme fits into the picture.

The NSW state government has launched a series of policies and incentive schemes to encourage renewable energy, hydrogen and ammonia in the state. Learn more about the incentives on offer, including the newly-launched green hydrogen electricity concession scheme.

Small group tours of the CSIRO site will take attendees through ammonia combustion engine R&D labs, as well as exploring the extensive renewable energy generating assets deployed onsite.

Realizing Australia’s clean energy potential will require workers: and lots of them! The safe production, handling and transport of ammonia will require a well-trained workforce of its own, many times what the current refrigeration industry possesses. How do we train (or re-skill) these new workers, what level of safety competency will be required, and what extra support will be needed from governments, emergency services and the general public?

The emergence of ammonia-fired gas turbines as a utility-scale power solution in Asia is one of the headline stories of the last year. Gas turbines join coal co-firing and industrial boilers as potential ammonia-fired power generation possibilities in Asia. In this session we will explore how the commercialization of key technologies is progressing, how NOx emissions will be mitigated &/or eliminated, and what new standards, operating practices and infrastructure needs to be developed.

Thanks to our Conference dinner sponsor: Envision Energy

Join us for our official conference dinner at a historic Newcastle venue – Fort Scratchley. Connect & de-brief with fellow attendees as we reflect on our speaking program, and celebrate another year of ammonia energy progress in APAC.

Transfer provided between CSIRO Energy Centre and Kooragang Island. Orica will outline current decarbonisation initiatives, operational capabilities and future plans for the plant. A great chance to ask questions & see a working ammonia production plant.

A registration link will be provided to attendees – limited spots are available.

https://www.orica.com/Locations/Asia-Pacific/Australia/Kooragang-Island

Direct Ammonia Solid Oxide Fuel Cells
Dattatray Dhawale et al.

Low pressure green ammonia production for distributed scale applications
Mandar Risbud et al.

Solid-state electrolyte technology for low-emission hydrogen/ammonia production
Saheli Biswas et al.

Development of a Practical Site Specific Cost Optimization Model for Renewable Energy Technologies and Electrolyser for Green Hydrogen Production
Masud Rana et al.

Techno-economic Analysis of On-farm Hydrogen Production and Comparison in Two Continents
Beau Broen et al.