Ampt tech to power solar-plus-storage system for Australian hydrogen plant

Ampt, a leading provider of DC optimization technology for large-scale photovoltaic (PV) systems, has announced that its String Optimizers will be utilized by Hiringa Energy, a green hydrogen project developer, in a low-carbon cotton production initiative for Sundown Pastoral. The company’s technology will support the solar-plus-storage system that powers Hiringa’s green hydrogen and ammonia production facility, which forms part of the Good Earth Green Hydrogen and Ammonia (GEGHA) Project located in New South Wales (NSW), Australia. The GEGHA project, which has received AUD35.8 million (USD 23.6 million) in funding from the NSW Government under the Net Zero Plan Stage 1: 2020–2030, utilizes renewable energy to produce a low-carbon substitute for imported fertilizers and feedstocks. Situated at Sundown Pastoral’s Good Earth cotton farm near Moree, the project’s engineering design was led by Kinelli and represents a collaborative effort among leaders in solar energy, hydrogen production, and agriculture. 

The project features a 27 MWdc solar array paired with a 30 MWh battery energy storage system. Ampt String Optimizers allow a DC-coupled design where the PV system connects directly to the DC bus between the battery and the grid-forming battery inverter. This battery-centric approach was key to powering the off-grid electrolyzers from the hybrid power plant and to producing enough hydrogen to feed the ammonia plant 24 hours a day. Ampt String Optimizers are DC/DC converters installed within the PV array that perform maximum power point tracking (MPPT) on each string of solar modules to maximize energy output. These optimizers deliver the maximum available power while dynamically adjusting to the battery’s voltage fluctuations during charging and discharging. Ampt’s battery-focused architecture is highly valued for its fast response times and ability to provide advanced grid services, including Frequency Control Ancillary Services (FCAS). Additionally, this system design requires fewer inverters and transformers compared to conventional setups, offering a more efficient and cost-effective power management solution.