The state’s largest gas distributor, Jemena, has announced the purchase of NSW’s first electrolyser, which will create hydrogen for a five-year trial to introduce hydrogen to the gas grid.

The 500 kilowatt unit is built by Hydrogenics and distributed locally by ANT Energy Solutions. The $15 million, five-year trial project is supported by $7.5 million in Australian Renewable Energy Agency funding, and will be carried out at an undisclosed location in western Sydney.

According to a statement, it is estimated there will be enough hydrogen produced – through solar and wind – to supply the cooking, heating and hot water needs of 250 homes. The trial will test and demonstrate “the co-mingling, storage and distribution of hydrogen and natural gas in the existing network.” It is estimated up to 10 per cent hydrogen can be safely blended with natural gas.

“New South Wales’ first electrolyser will ensure we can develop processes to store renewably generated energy in existing network infrastructure for use when the sun doesn’t shine and the wind doesn’t blow,” said Gabrielle Sycamore, General Manager, Strategy and Commercial, Jemena.

“Gas is vital to many Australian companies and communities including the $196 billion mining and manufacturing industry and more than 6.5 million homes.”

The trial was announced in October last year.

Picture: Bernd Settnik/EPA