Sep 12 2024 8 mins
This mini-series has been developed off back of some feedback from a few of our listeners who it would be useful and interesting to have more of a discussion from companies that have experience and can share real-life examples of any supply chain and import challenges
A huge shout out to the companies and individuals who were willing to share their learnings in this mini-series and embodying that sense of collaboration with the hydrogen community. So, to Plug Power, BOC, Amarna Energy and ATCO, Thank you.
Alistair Wardrope is the Technical Director & Co-Founder of Amarna Energy.
Alistair has been working in the renewable hydrogen industry since 2006, starting his career in ITM-Power, and moving into offshore wind and nuclear generation in the UK. He moved to Australia in 2013 working for Jemena, becoming the technical lead for renewable gases, heading up Jemena’s hydrogen demonstration plant and biomethane injection plant. Along with Andrew Lelliott, they co-founded Amarna in 2019, a specialist renewable energy consultancy, providing engineering and project management to a range of leading hydrogen and cutting-edge renewable technologies. Amarna has offices in Sydney and Brisbane and supports a range of projects in operation, construction, and various stages of development.
Andy is joined by Alistair Wardrope, a seasoned expert with nearly two decades of experience in the hydrogen sector. Alistair shares his expertise on the current state of hydrogen in Australia, particularly focusing on the technical and logistical challenges of importing key equipment such as electrolysers, compressors, and gas storage units.
Throughout the episode, Alistair discusses:
● The immature hydrogen sector in Australia, especially regarding electrolyser technology.
● Common issues faced by hydrogen projects in Australia include compliance delays, installation problems, and quality control.
● The importance of collaboration within the hydrogen community to overcome these challenges.
● The relatively stable supply chain for compressed gas cylinders versus the more problematic areas like electrolysers and compressors.
● Lessons learned from working with hydrogen technologies across different sectors and regions.
Alistair also emphasises the need for patience and collaboration, as these early challenges are typical in any emerging industry. As hydrogen technologies scale up and become more refined, many of these issues will likely diminish over time. He encourages developers in Australia to focus on strengthening local supply chains while relying on proven global technology for core components.
Key Takeaways:
● The hydrogen sector is still in its early stages in Australia, with significant challenges related to the import of electrolyser technology.
● Supply chain issues are common but can be overcome with collaboration and shared industry knowledge.
● Developers should leverage local strengths in manufacturing and assembly to complement global technologies.
● Patience is key- scaling up a new industry always comes with teething pains, but lessons learned today will drive future progress.
Links
linkedin.com/in/alistair-wardrope-82183b24
Let me know what you think about the mini series. If you like it then we can try feature more companies with their case studies and learnings in future episodes. Please message me with any thoughts and feedback at https://www.linkedin.com/in/andymarsland/