Under an initial term of 15 years, commencing on December 31, 2024, Water Corporation will supply Frontier’s Bristol Springs Renewable Energy Project with 1,250 kilolitres of water per day.

Stage One of the Frontier project plans to install 36.6MW of alkaline electrolysis capacity, however, H2 View understands the secured water supply could support up to four times that at 150MW, allowing plans for future expansion.

Water will be supplied to the site via an existing main, carrying water from the Southern Dams and Southern Desalination Plant to the Integrated Water Supply Scheme (IWSS) which delivers 303 billion litres of water per year in the Australian state.

“We are delighted to have executed this essential agreement with the Water Corporation and thank them and the Western Australian Government for their continued support of our project,” said Sam Mohan, Managing Director of Frontier Energy.

Mohan highlighted that the supply main is located just 3km from the Bristol Springs sight, which removed the need to establish a desalination facility, which could have added millions to the project’s development costs.

From a concluded pre-front-end engineering design (FEED) study, the company estimates that Stage One of the project would cost $71.7m,  with direct operating costs associated with the hydrogen facility estimated at $2.89m per year.

A definitive feasibility study is currently being undertaken and is expected to be released this month (March 2023).