Decarbonising for Green Zinc – Ark Energy

Exploring Hydrogen

Tim Davies is the Project Manager for Ark Energy’s proposed Han-Ho H2 Hub, a major renewable generation, green hydrogen, and ammonia project in North Queensland. With a strong background at Fortescue Future Industries and Origin Energy, Tim has extensive experience across the hydrogen, oil, gas, and energy value chain.

A distinguished engineer and project manager, he is known for his expertise in megaprojects and his broad commercial acumen. Tim is dedicated to advancing the renewable energy industry and bringing innovation to the energy sector.

Overview of Ark Energy and Korea Zinc
Tim discusses Ark Energy's mission to decarbonise Korea Zinc's operations. He explains, "Ark Energy was formed to decarbonise the group, leveraging investments in renewable projects like the MacIntyre Wind Farm and Sun Metals Solar Farm."

MacIntyre Wind Farm and Sun Metals Solar Farm

Development of renewable energy projects and their integration with zinc refinery operations. Tim highlights, "MacIntyre is a one-gigawatt wind farm, the largest in the Southern Hemisphere, aimed at local energy use and decarbonisation."

Expansion and Acquisitions

Ark Energy's acquisition of Epuron expanded its renewable energy portfolio to seven gigawatts. Tim states, "With the acquisition of Epuron, we now have a significant pipeline of renewable energy developments along the East Coast of Queensland and New South Wales."

SunHQ Project
Current construction status and challenges faced, including the impact of COVID-19 on project timelines. Tim shares, "SunHQ will be the largest integrated refuelling station in Australia, powering hydrogen trucks with green hydrogen from our solar farm."

Han-Ho Hydrogen Hub
Overview of the project and its current stage. Tim mentions, "We're targeting 1.8 million tonnes per annum of hydrogen production, backed by the development of our Collinsville Green Energy Hub."

Recent Budget Announcements
Analysis of the recent budget's impact on hydrogen projects in Australia. Tim observes, "The production tax incentive signals to our offshore investors that Australia is keen on green hydrogen and is putting money into closing the gap."

Challenges in the Hydrogen Sector
Addressing skill shortages and resource management in Australia. Tim notes, "We need to be mindful of the pressure on local communities and labour markets as we ramp up hydrogen projects."

Korean Contracts for Difference Scheme
Overview of the scheme and its impact on hydrogen projects. Tim explains, "The Korean government is prioritising green hydrogen, and with Australia's hydrogen production tax incentive, green hydrogen is looking favourable."

Tim's Trip to China
Insights from visiting major manufacturers and advancements in electrolyser technology. Tim shares, "China's scale-up for manufacturing hydrogen technology is impressive, but there's still a challenge to meet Australian standards and timelines."

Community Engagement and Social License
Importance of early engagement with local communities and addressing their concerns. Tim emphasises, "Social license isn't given; it's earned. We're working closely with communities to understand and mitigate impacts."

Project Challenges and Strategies
Balancing engineering and commercial aspects to ensure sustainable development. Tim states, "The biggest challenge is aligning all the puzzle pieces, from engineering to commercial agreements, to make these projects viable."

Future Vision for Ark Energy
Goals and expectations for the next decade. Tim envisions, "In ten years, we'd like to see Han-Ho operating, a green corridor between Korea and Australia established, and significant progress towards net zero."

Final Thoughts and Call to Action
Tim encourages collaboration within the hydrogen industry. He concludes, "The more projects we get over the line, the quicker we can bring costs down and transition to green hydrogen. We're proponents, not competitors."

Follow ARK Energy

Website: arkenergy.com.au

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/72066237