Origin Energy and Mitsui O.S.K. to collaborate on green ammonia

By Julian Atchison on August 17, 2021

Origin and MOL executives at the virtual MoU signing last week.
Click to learn more. Origin and MOL executives at the virtual MoU signing last week. Source: Origin Energy

Australia-based Origin Energy and shipping company Mitsui O.S.K Lines (MOL) have joined forces to explore where they can develop the green ammonia supply chain between Australia and Asia. The new joint study (to be completed by the end of this year) will also determine the feasibility of Australian green ammonia export projects supplying key markets by 2026.

With our abundance of renewable resources and proximity to Asian markets, Australia is in the box seat to develop a world-leading hydrogen sector, exporting low emissions energy all over the world to meet demand for clean energy from our major trading partners.

Many nations have committed to ambitious carbon targets, and partners such as Mitsui O.S.K Lines will be crucial to underpinning the development of a strong hydrogen sector here in Australia.

Origin’s General Manager of Future Fuels, Tracey Boyes in the organisation’s press release, 11 Aug 2021

The announcement also notes that Origin’s separate feasibility study into their proposed green ammonia export facility in Bell Bay, Tasmania is “well progressed“.

One of many collaborations focused on Bell Bay

Along with this new MOL joint study and their own feasibility work, Origin partnered with Korean steel maker POSCO in April to study a green hydrogen export chain between Bell Bay and Korea, with the transport vector to be green ammonia. We also have:

  • Fortescue Future Industries‘ plan for a similar-sized (250 MW electrolysers) green ammonia export facility in Bell Bay (FID due by the end of this year), and
  • IHI Corporation’s partnership with Australian organisations in two separate feasibility studies into Bell Bay green ammonia exports to Japan: Fortescue and Woodside.

Origin features at upcoming Australia conference

Panel Session 2 at our upcoming inline Australia conference: a showcase of clean ammonia export projects, featuring Origin Energy's Sarah Tincknell.
Click to enlarge. Panel Session 2 at our upcoming online Australia conference: a showcase of clean ammonia export projects, featuring Origin Energy’s Sarah Tincknell.

If you’re interested in Origin’s plans for Bell Bay – or just their increasing focus on green ammonia in general – don’t miss next week’s online Australia conference. Origin Stakeholder and Regulatory Manager Sarah Tincknell joins us for two conference sessions: the Australian export projects showcase, and our closing panel where we ask “what next?”

We’re also thrilled to announce a sponsor for the export project showcase session: law firm Shearman & Sterling. Partner Dan Feldman will join the panel to give his perspective on Australian developments, and share some key lessons learned in the development of ammonia mega-projects in the Middle East. Don’t miss out, register today!