Japan’s ENEOS Corporation has opened its new large-scale green hydrogen facility at Bulwer Island in Brisbane, where it will produce methylcyclohexane (MCH), a hydrogen carrier, using its proprietary low-cost electrochemical synthesis of organic hydride method.
Green hydrogen produced from renewable energy is expected to play a key role in achieving a carbon-neutral society. However, reducing production and transportation costs remains a significant challenge.
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ENEOS is working to lower the overall cost of the green hydrogen supply chain by utilising Direct MCH technology, which enables the direct, single-step synthesis of MCH.
ENEOS has steadily advanced the development of Direct MCH technology and has now developed a 1.2MW-class electrolyser, representing the minimum unit size for commercial deployment.
The demonstration plant will utilise an electrolyser approximately eight times larger than the unit deployed in a previous demonstration conducted in 2023 and is designed to achieve a maximum MCH production capacity of nine tons per day. Demonstration operations are expected to continue for approximately two years.
Leveraging the knowledge gained from this demonstration project, ENEOS will pursue the commercialization and deployment of the technology while comprehensively assessing technological progress, economic viability, and market conditions.
Following trial operations, the demonstration plant will begin full operations in January 2027.
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Queensland Minister for Finance, Trade, Employment and Training Ros Bates said, “Under our government, Queensland is open for business and stands ready to work with investors to drive sustainable economic opportunities for the future.”
