Vast and Mabanaft Award SM1 Engineering Contracts to Fichtner and bse Methanol, with Arup's Dr. Amy Philbrook as Project Manager

Core Viewpoint - Vast Renewables Limited, in partnership with Mabanaft, is advancing its green methanol plant project SM1 in Port Augusta, South Australia, marking a significant milestone with the commencement of pre-front-end engineering and design (FEED) work [1][4]. Group 1: Project Overview - SM1 will have an annual production capacity of 7,500 tonnes of green methanol, which is a versatile hydrogen derivative capable of decarbonizing shipping and aviation fuels when produced using clean energy [2][3]. - The project will utilize clean and renewable heat from Vast's 30 MW / 240 MWh concentrated solar thermal power (CSP) plant [2]. Group 2: Engineering and Technology - Fichtner, an international engineering group, and bse Methanol, a German e-fuels leader, have been contracted to lead the engineering efforts for the project, leveraging their expertise in renewable energy projects [3][4]. - The integration of various technologies will include a Leilac calcination plant for carbon dioxide capture, a methanol plant utilizing bse Methanol's FlexMethanol® modules, and an electrolysis plant for hydrogen production [4]. Group 3: Funding and Support - The project has secured funding agreements amounting to AUD $19.48 million from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) and EUR 12.4 million from Projektträger Jülich (PtJ) on behalf of the German government [4]. - The involvement of experienced partners like Fichtner and bse Methanol is expected to significantly contribute to the successful realization of the innovative solar methanol plant [5][6]. Group 4: Leadership and Vision - Craig Wood, CEO of Vast, emphasized the project's potential impact on the hard-to-abate transport sector and the importance of the pre-FEED milestone [5]. - Dr. Amy Philbrook from Arup expressed excitement about contributing to this pioneering project, highlighting its potential to transform the transport sector [5].