Details of Murchison ammonia mega-project emerge

By Julian Atchison on May 12, 2022

Location of the Murchison PtX project in Western Australia. Source: Murchison Hydrogen Renewables - Supporting Document, 2 May 2022.
Click to enlarge. Location of the Murchison PtX project in Western Australia. Source: Murchison Hydrogen Renewables – Supporting Document, 2 May 2022.

The Murchison PtX project has been under development since 2019, when it was first launched by Siemens and Hydrogen Renewables Australia. In 2020, Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners came on board as a key funder & project developer.

Now, further details have emerged thanks to a recent proposal submitted to Western Australia’s Environmental Protection Authority.

The Proposal will use combined onshore wind and solar energy of approximately 5.2 gigawatt (GW) capacity to produce green hydrogen which will be converted to an estimated 2 Million tonnes per annum (Mtpa) of green ammonia for export to emerging green energy markets. The Proposal is located within the Shire of Northampton, Western Australia (WA), approximately 20 km north of Kalbarri.

The Proposal comprises the following major components:

– A wind and solar farm with a combined installed capacity of approximately 5.2 GW
– A Power-to-X (PtX) facility that will use the produced green energy to create approximately 2 Mtpa of green ammonia
– Ammonia export facility including pipeline and export vessel mooring and product transfer infrastructure

Murchison PtX proposal details submitted to WA EPA, 2 May 2022

700 turbines will surround 1.5 GW of solar panels, with a PtX facility (electrolysis and ammonia production) located on the coast. Desalinated seawater will feed the electrolysers (3 GW), and a 1.4km cryogenic, sub sea pipeline to transport ammonia for export from an offshore terminal. Ammonia storage tanks and battery storage systems for renewable electricity will also be installed.

Site layout of the Murchison PtX project near Kalbarri, WA (indicative roads marked). Approx. 700 turbines will surround a 1.5 GW solar farm, with a PtX plant (3 GW electrolysers, desalination plant and Haber Bosch ammonia production plant) on the coast (light blue rectangle). Export will be via sub sea pipeline, and a terminal 1.4km offshore. Source: Murchison Hydrogen Renewables - Proposal Content Document, 2 Ma
Click to enlarge. Site layout of the Murchison PtX project near Kalbarri, WA (indicative roads marked). Approx. 700 turbines will surround a 1.5 GW solar farm, with a PtX plant (3 GW electrolysers, desalination plant and Haber Bosch ammonia production plant) on the coast (light blue rectangle). Export will be via sub sea pipeline, and a terminal 1.4km offshore. Source: Murchison Hydrogen Renewables – Proposal Content Document, 2 May 2022.