Quantem – Energy Efficiency and Electrification Feasibility Study

Summary

Need

In 2021, the Recipient integrated and embedded ESG objectives into its core business strategies. A Net Zero 2050 target and an annual 5% emissions reduction target was set, and the decarbonisation strategy commenced. 

The program will review opportunities to improve energy efficiency, potential for electrification of process heat applications and deeper decarbonisation opportunities across the sites. This will include heat exchange and recovery, heat pumps, electric steam generators, thermal storage and heat recovery opportunities. 

Action

The Study builds upon an earlier energy and emission reduction roadmap completed for the Recipient’s West Melbourne site and a net zero emissions roadmap funded by the Recipient in early 2023.  

This project will investigate the feasibility and integration of following technologies in an innovative manner: 

• All potential energy efficiencies (thermal demand reduction) 
• Interconnection of existing gas process heating systems (centralisation of utility systems) 
• Introduction of innovative electrification technologies such as electric process heating, electric boilers, heat pumps and electric process heating from European and north American suppliers  
• On-site renewable energy generation and potential Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) 
• Integration of the options identified 
• Maximising the benefit for both Quantem and the grid by integration of these assets to create an energy ecosystem that can participate in various demand reduction/grid stability schemes 

 Involvement of well-proven European and North American suppliers will provide a clear pathway to a pilot implementation at one or all of the Quantem sites and provide key indicators (e.g. electricity/gas supply cost critical tipping points) for other industries to follow. 

Outcome

The Study will achieve the following Outcomes:  

1. enable a decision by the Recipient to proceed to a more detailed engineering study (FEED) for the identified solutions;  
2. inform the bulk storage industry of the barriers to implementation of the studied Project and potential solutions to these barriers;  
3. accelerate uptake of energy efficiency projects across the bulk storage industry; and  
4. enable accelerated transformational improvement in industrial renewable energy and/or energy efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions compared to baseline or business as usual across the bulk storage industry, and other industrial sites with industrial process heat applications at temperatures lower than 250°C.