Verbrec engineering solutions for energy transformation

With innovation at its core, it’s natural that engineering and operations services company Verbrec is actively playing a role in the decarbonisation of the energy network. Since 2015, Verbrec has been involved in projects which have led the way in this space, including the world first shipment of hydrogen, a waste-to-energy development and other revolutionary pilot programs.

Verbrec is a leading engineering and infrastructure company, working across the entire asset life-cycle. In addition, the company is also a provider of specialist industrial training, which not only maintains compliance, but also improves efficiency, safety and avoids down-time.

Verbrec stands out from the competition by staying true to its values of: Safety: zero harm, always; Team members: its greatest asset; Innovation: being a step ahead; Delivery: quality, on-time and on budget; and Integrity: doing what is right. Verbrec has more than 700 professionals dedicated to innovative thinking and exceptional client service, operating across Australia, New Zealand, PNG, and the Pacific Islands.

Verbrec brings together a number of wellestablished companies, including LogiCamms and OSD, which individually have a strong track record of delivering specialised services to the energy, mining and infrastructure industries since 1988. Verbrec represents the company’s evolution and continued growth by leveraging emerging techniques and technologies for the benefit of its clients, including in the energy transformation.

In line with Verbrec’s vision to engineer transformative solutions, the company is committed to playing its part in the decarbonisation of the energy mix, facilitated by renewables and alternative fuels, such as hydrogen and biogases. Verbrec has already played a significant role in several important and innovative projects which leverage technology and innovation to facilitate emissions reduction.

Latrobe Valley HESC Pilot Plant Control

Verbrec played a role in the world’s first shipment of liquified hydrogen (LH2) from Australia to Japan. The LH2 was produced at a plant in the LaTrobe Valley which is part of the Hydrogen Energy Supply Chain (HESC) pilot project, aiming to produce 225,000 tonnes of the fuel each year.

Verbrec, in collaboration with GHD and J-Power, provided the main control system components at the plant where the hydrogen was produced, including the Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA). Singling out the engineering and commissioning teams for their contribution to the watershed moment, Verbrec COO Matthew Cooper says this is an example of the company’s commitment to decarbonisation.

“This is one of the many ways Verbrec and its subsidiary LogiCamms are contributing to a carbon neutral future, supporting hydrogen’s role in the energy transition,” he says.

In January 2022, the LH2 was transported by specially-built LH2 carrier, the Suiso Frontier, from the Port of Hastings, Victoria, to Kobe, Japan. The Japanese and Australian governments are supporting the $500 million HESC project.

HESC estimates the volume of hydrogen produced by the project will help reduce global emissions by approximately 1.8 million tonnes per year.

Verbrec was engaged to support the detailed design and engineering of a hydrogen refuelling station in NSW.

Hydrogen Refuelling Station Trial

In 2021, Verbrec was engaged by one of Australia’s largest energy operators and asset owners to support the detailed design and engineering of a hydrogen refuelling station in New South Wales. The company has defined, and is currently providing, all engineering deliverables required to install, integrate and safely operate the refuelling station to applicable standards.

The construction of the station is part of a 12 month trial to power a bus using hydrogen, which will be fuelled from a third party H2 tube trailer. The scope of the project includes the technical assessment of vendor packages, a safety hazard and operability (HAZOP) study, hazard identification facilitation, as well as location assessment and general arrangement of the refuelling station.

In addition, Verbrec managed the integration of the electrical and instrumentation, controls and telecommunications; the civil and structural design; process and operations support; hazardous area classification and drawings; and managed regulatory approvals. The scope further includes a detailed review and assessment of the vendor package to ensure it meets all legislative requirements for installation in NSW.

Victorian Waste-to-Energy project

In 2019, Verbrec was engaged by an energy services provider to connect a waste-to-energy plant with 2 x 11.5MW of embedded generation in Victoria. The project involved the connecting an 11.5 MW generator to each of the two available 22 kV feeders in the area.

Verbrec carried out the initial generator

Verbrec played a role in the world’s first shipment of liquified hydrogen from Australia to Japan, designing and implementing the main Control System (PCL/SCADA) at the Pilot Plant where the hydrogen was produced.

performance study (GPS) to demonstrate to the distribution network service provider (DNSP) that the system would be suitable for connection. In addition to the GPS, the company also completed software modelling.

The voltages were connected at 22 kV but assessed to provide up to 66kV of power.

QLD Hydrogen Pilot Program

Verbrec was involved in the construction of one of Queensland’s first green hydrogen generation facilities. Powered entirely from solar, the facility was setup as a demonstration pilot program.

Verbrec provided engineering support for the construction and commissioning of the system which comprised a pressurised water electrolyser unit and a purification unit providing hydrogen at the required purity for use in fuel cell generators and electric vehicles. It also included a solid-state storage unit to store hydrogen at low pressure by adsorbing it into a specially designed substrate.

Verbrec ensured the design of the system complied with Australian regulations and standards for process modules. In addition, the company managed design verification and registration of pressure vessels, the HAZOP of the interconnection of process modules to ensure safe operation and designed the vehicle fuel loading, as well as completing the development application for traffic, parking and stormwater infrastructure.

“Verbrec is proud of the successful delivery of these projects,” says Verbrec CEO Linton Burns. “Our technical capabilities in control systems, grid connections and pipelines uniquely positions Verbrec to play an ongoing role in transforming the energy mix towards net zero carbon emissions. These capabilities will continue to ‘evolve’ as the transformation of the energy mix ‘evolves’.”

For more information visit www.verbrec.com

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