The Federal Government has committed to publishing an annual State of Hydrogen report. The report monitors and tracks the measures of success and industry development signals outlined in the National Hydrogen Strategy.
Included in the report, a summary of Australia’s Major Hydrogen Projects, including the Queensland Hydrogen Industry Strategy 2019–2024. The strategy is a 5-year plan to grow a sustainable hydrogen industry that:
- supports renewable resources
- creates jobs
- strengthens our economy.
The strategy includes 17 actions across 5 focus areas. It will allow Queensland to take advantage of emerging domestic and international renewable hydrogen opportunities. The Queensland Government has already invested over $60 million to support the development of the hydrogen industry. This includes:
- support for industry development activities
- investment in education, training and skills to provide a pathway to the highly skilled jobs of the future
- financial assistance for private sector projects through the Hydrogen Industry Development Fund. The skills and training portion of this funding includes:
- $20 million towards a Queensland Apprenticeships Centre, which will include a Hydrogen Training Centre of Excellence
- $10.6 million towards a hydrogen and renewable energy training facility in Townsville
- $2 million to upgrade training facilities at Gladstone State High School to prepare students for jobs in the hydrogen industry
- $23 million towards the Pinkenba Renewable Energy Training Facility.
Major Projects
Fortescue Future Industries
Queensland was selected for one of the world’s largest hydrogen-equipment manufacturing facilities in a partnership between the Queensland Government and Fortescue Future Industries in Gladstone. Stage one of the multi-stage project will establish Australia’s first multi-gigawatt-scale electrolyser factory, with an initial capacity of 2 GW per year.
Stanwell Corporation
Stanwell Corporation and Iwatani Corporation of Japan have secured a land site west of Gladstone for a proposed 3 GW hydrogen export facility. Japanese companies Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Kansai Electric Power Company and Marubeni, and Australian energy infrastructure business APA Group, have joined the consortium with Stanwell and Iwatani.
CS Energy
CS Energy, in partnership with IHI Corporation Japan, is undertaking a feasibility study to establish a hydrogen demonstration plant next to the Kogan Creek Power Station near Chinchilla. The project concept includes co-location of a:
- 2 MW solar farm which will provide behind-the-meter power to the hydrogen plant
- 2 MW battery
- 1 MW hydrogen electrolyser
- hydrogen fuel cell producing up to 50,000 kg of hydrogen a year.
Edify Energy
Townsville City Council formally approved the first development application over land within the Lansdown Eco-Industrial Precinct (46 kilometres south of Townsville) by Edify Energy. Edify Energy proposes to build and operate a renewable hydrogen production facility as well as a behind-the-meter solar photovoltaic and battery storage facility at the precinct. A memorandum of understanding was also signed between Edify Energy and the Port of Townsville to explore exporting hydrogen at the port.
To read the full report, head here or download the pdf below