H2-Hub(TM) Gladstone
H2-HubTM Gladstone
A large-scale chemical complex is proposed for Gladstone, for the production of renewables-based hydrogen and ammonia.
| Main proponents:
The Hydrogen Utility (H2U) |
Main end-use classification:
Industrial process – ammonia production |
Status:
Under development |
Estimated cost:
AUD$4.7 billion (full scale) |
| Other involvement:
|
Production details:
3 GW electrolyser plant capacity at full scale |
Location:
Queensland, Australia |
Announced funding:
|
Project description
The Hydrogen Utility (H2U), an Australian-based developer of hydrogen infrastructure, is proposing a large-scale chemical complex at Gladstone, Queensland, for the production of renewable hydrogen and ammonia.
The proposed development would be constructed in stages to integrate up to 3 Gigawatt (GW) in electrolyser plant and up to 5,000 tonnes per day in ammonia production capacity. It is expected that the proposed facility would be supplied solely by renewables-based energy from new-build solar and wind resources in the Queensland region of the National Electricity Market.
Through the Queensland Government’s land use planning and property development agency, Economic Development Queensland (EDQ), H2U have purchased a 171-hectare site at Yarwun in the Gladstone State Development Area, which is in close proximity to the export precinct at Fisherman’s Landing.
In April 2022, a strategic partnership agreement between Orica and H2U to support initiation of the first phase of the proposed project was announced. Working through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on a master plan study, both parties are to explore opportunities for an exclusive domestic renewables-based ammonia offtake and supply agreement. The potential agreement would see renewables-based ammonia supplied directly to Orica’s Yarwun manufacturing plant from the project’s proposed Yarwun ammonia production plant. At the same time, it was announced the project had been a declared a Coordinated Project by the Queensland Government.
The parties would also collaborate on the exploration of a potential renewables-based ammonia export terminal at the Port of Gladstone, leveraging the existing Orica ammonia storage capacity at the Fisherman’s Landing Wharf and the associated connecting infrastructure in the Gladstone State Development Area to facilitate the meeting of potential export demand.
In November 2022, it was announced that H2U and Korea East West Power (EWP) had signed a MoU to develop value chains for green energy exports, with emphasis on the possible use of renewables-based hydrogen (which can be stored within ammonia) in decarbonising Korea EWP power stations.
In February 2023, the Queensland Coordinator General issued the Terms of Reference for an environmental impact statement (EIS) for the project.
A draft EIS is presently in preparation. In July 2024, the Coordinator-General stated a new project declaration lapse date of 5 August 2026 (for further information see Lapse of coordinated project declaration | State Development and Infrastructure).
This description is based on publicly available information.
Reviewed: September 2024