New investment to help Brisbane become a Renewable Hydrogen Leader

The Albanese Government is helping kick off investment in what could be one of the world’s largest renewable hydrogen production facilities, located in Brisbane, Queensland.

Through the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), the Albanese Government is funding a $13.7 million grant to help Fortescue Future Industries and Incitec Pivot Limited (IPL) explore development of a green hydrogen facility dedicated to decarbonising an ammonia plant.

The $38 million engineering and design project will investigate a 500-megawatt electrolyser capable of producing up to 70,000 tonnes of renewable hydrogen a year.

This will be used in Incitec Pivot Limited’s Gibson Island ammonia synthesis plant.

Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen said the project would help Australia become a world leader in hydrogen production.

“The project will provide valuable insights into the cost of producing renewable hydrogen and adapting infrastructure to facilitate exports of renewable ammonia,” Minister Bowen said.

“If successful, the electrolyser will be the largest built to date, feeding renewable hydrogen directly into the first fully decarbonised ammonia facility.

“The study is critical to the domestic and export industry for clean hydrogen and ammonia supply-chains to deliver Australia’s first renewable hydrogen shipments to international markets.”

Ammonia is vital for fertiliser production and is used in explosives to mine several materials, including Australia’s rare metals, which are in great demand because of the global energy transformation.

Around 100 jobs will be supported across the project in the lead up to a final investment decision, with first production expected around 2025.

To know more about the project, visit ARENA’s website.