Lumen Winter 2023 - Flipbook - Page 6
Kristin Raman - Courtesy of Matt Turner/Newspix
“Changing the world” no joke
On a challenging day, Kristin Raman and
her colleagues sometimes joke that it’s tough
changing the world.
“The hydrogen comes from water split
into its two components using sustainablysourced electricity,” she explains.
While that is said entirely in jest, in her own
“small way”, as she describes it, she is proud
to be playing a part.
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.
“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).
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.
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THE UNIVERSITY OF ADELAIDE
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.
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.
“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.”
The goal, of course, is to reduce greenhouse
gas emissions and find sustainable energy
sources other than fossil fuels.
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.
“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
