By providing a secure energy supply, the H2RESTORE Project could help equip the electricity grid to handle seasonal shifts in energy generation from renewable energy sources and thereby help enable a smoother transition away from fossil fuels.

By utilising excess renewable energy to produce hydrogen (likely during periods of renewable generation oversupply), the H2RESTORE Project could capture energy that would otherwise be spilled and undelivered to the electricity grid, maximising the use of available resources.

Just as grid-scale batteries can shift energy within a day, underground hydrogen storage has the potential to shift energy within a year. For example, from a sunny and windy mild day in Spring to a cold, still Winter’s night.

The H2RESTORE Project presents an excellent opportunity to utilise treated wastewater to produce hydrogen. This approach maximizes resource efficiency and minimises environmental impact.

Using existing depleted gas reservoirs to store hydrogen at a large-scale would result in less new infrastructure when compared to other alternatives for large-scale hydrogen storage, such as ammonia or refrigeration.

The H2RESTORE Project supports the Victorian and Federal net-zero emissions targets and aligns with Lochard Energy’s corporate goal of being net-zero by 2045.

The H2RESTORE Project also aligns with the Victorian renewable hydrogen industry development plan, which sets out a blueprint for how the Victorian Government will support a suite of outcomes to drive the development of a renewable hydrogen sector.

The Feasibility Study aligns with ARENA’s (Australian Renewable Energy Agency’s) strategic priorities for optimising the transition to renewable energy and commercialisation of clean hydrogen.

The Feasibility Study also aligns with three objectives of ARENA’s Advancing Renewables Program: reduction in the cost of renewable energy, increasing the value of renewable energy, and improving the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of renewable energy technologies.

The development and operation of the H2RESTORE Project could create a multitude of job opportunities, particularly in regional areas. By fostering employment, the Project can help drive economic growth and prosperity, empowering communities and stimulating local economies in Victoria.

Lochard Energy has begun sharing learnings of the early stages of its work on the Project through CSIRO and IEA Hydrogen TCP Task 42.