Solar Methanol 1 Becomes South Australia Solar Fuels

Vast and Mabanaft’s world-first sustainable fuels projects is changing its name from ‘Solar Methanol 1’ to ‘South Australia Solar Fuels’ (SA Solar Fuels) and the project has a newwebsite: www.sasolarfuels.com

The new name reflects the potential of the project’s combination of groundbreaking technologies to produce a range of hydrogen-derived sustainable fuels, including methanol,which can be used to replace fossil fuels in ships, planes and industrial applications.

SA Solar Fuels also recognises the critical role South Australia is playing in progressing theglobal hydrogen economy. The project is one of the most advanced hydrogen projects in Australia with pre-FEED studies completed. It is being developed to meet the existing and rapidly growing demand for sustainable fuels from the shipping and aviation industries, with both urgently requiring pathways to decarbonise to meet net zero targets.

Backed by the Australian and German Governments with funding commitments ofAUD$19.48m and EUR13.2m, through their HyGATE program, SA Solar Fuels has a production capacity of 7,500 tpa of sustainable fuel. That is enough to fuel multiple roll-on roll-off car ferries for sustainable tourism or short-sea shipping around Australia for bulk freight.

Located at the Port Augusta Green Energy Park, SA Solar Fuels combines world-leading low carbon technology to produce sustainable fuels. It will be powered by Vast’s next generation concentrated solar thermal power (CSP) technology, which can offer the lowest-cost energy source for green fuel production thanks to its ability to generate continuous heat and power. Calix’s co-located world-first, carbon capture and utilisation (CCU) demonstration plant will supply unavoidable industrial CO2 emissions, which will be synthesised with green hydrogen to create sustainable fuels.