“Changing the world” no joke
On a challenging day, Kristin Raman and her colleagues sometimes joke that it’s tough changing the world.
While that is said entirely in jest, in her own “small way”, as she describes it, she is proud to be playing a part.
“I didn’t set out with the goal of working in sustainability, but I guess it has always been a part of my psyche.
“As a family, my parents were involved in that world and it was just part of life for us to be active and thoughtful about the environment.”
“I’ve worked in the energy industry ever since I graduated from the University of Adelaide, so it perhaps makes sense that my two sides have come together.”
Kristin – known as Krissy – is Head of Strategy and Sustainability at Australian Gas Infrastructure Group (AGIG).
Kristin Raman - Courtesy of Matt Turner: Newspix
One of her key projects was the development of Hydrogen Park South Australia (HyP SA) in the Tonsley Innovation Centre – the first facility in Australia to deliver a renewable hydrogen blended gas to customers on the existing gas network.
“The hydrogen comes from water split into its two components using sustainably- sourced electricity,” she explains.
The “green” hydrogen is then blended with existing gas supply and initially supplied 700 gas customers in Mitchell Park. That is expanding to a further 3,000 gas connections – including businesses – this year.
The gas is also being pumped into tube trailers (long storage tubes on the back of semi-trailers) and transported for use by industry and, in the future, the transport sector.
The goal, of course, is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and find sustainable energy sources other than fossil fuels.
“We have other facilities around the country that are in various stages of development, and we are also working to connect biomethane facilities,” Krissy said. “It’s all part of the industry’s overall efforts to help to green up Australia’s energy mix.
“These are small steps in the right direction which AGIG likes to share with the wider community. Many people don’t know that renewable and carbon-neutral gases exist, or that our existing gas distribution networks can deliver them, so it is important to engage with the community and think about what more we can do to deliver the energy transition in a responsible way.”
Since operations began, about 3,000 people, from students to Ambassadors, have toured HyP SA.
“We know there is a long way to go for Australia, and the world, to meet emissions targets, but we are pleased that we have the opportunity to be working on something that can help us get there.”
Krissy Raman graduated from the University of Adelaide in 2006 with an Honours degree in Chemical Engineering and a Bachelor’s degree in Finance. She continues to have links to the University through her role on the Industry Advisory Board for the Centre for Energy Technology, and her role on the Research Advisory Committee for the Future Fuels Cooperative Research Centre.
Story by Mark Douglas