ATCO Clean Energy Innovation Hub launch

WA Property Council Executive Director, Sandra Brewer recently joined State Energy Minister, Hon. Bill Johnston, at the opening of Property Council member ATCO’s Clean Energy Innovation Hub in Jandakot. The Hub has been established at ATCO’s Operations Centre to explore the possibility of using a combination of solar panels, hydrogen and natural gas as a means of providing reliable, low-cost and low-emission energy on a larger scale in the future.

Solar panels on ATCO’s assets will be used to power ATCO’s Operations Centre and divert additional energy into battery storage for overnight use. Surplus electricity will be used in an electrolyser to produce hydrogen, with some of it powering a hybrid modular home constructed on the site and the remainder to be blended with ATCO’s existing natural gas supplies for research purposes.

It is anticipated the results from the Clean Energy Innovation Hub will help inform the McGowan Government’s approach to WA’s low emission energy mix going forward. This includes its Distributed Energy Resources Roadmap, due to be completed by the end of the year, as well as provide an early case study for the Government’s Renewable Hydrogen Council to consider in its aim to develop a renewable hydrogen industry in WA.

You can watch a short video on the facility here

You can view the Minister’s media release here