Han-Ho H2 Hub – Feasibility Study
Han-Ho H2 Hub – Feasibility Study
The project proponent is undertaking a feasibility study investigating the potential for a large-scale green ammonia supply chain between Australia and South Korea with multi-gigawatt hydrogen production potential co-located with renewable energy generation in Central Queensland.
| Main proponents:
Ark Energy Corporation Pty Ltd |
Main end-use classification:
Industrial process – ammonia production, export focussed |
Status:
Under development |
Estimated cost:
AUD$4.48 million – feasibility study stage |
| Other involvement:
SK Gas, Hanwha Impact, Korea Zinc |
Production details:
Multi-gigawatt hydrogen production potential under investigation |
Location:
Queensland, Australia |
Announced funding:
AUD$2.42 million – Federal Government Regional Hydrogen Hubs Program – Hub Development and Design funding stream |
Project description
Ark Energy Corporation Pty Ltd (Ark Energy) is an Australian subsidiary of Korea Zinc Company Ltd (Korea Zinc), the world’s largest zinc, lead and silver producer. Ark Energy was established to decarbonise the energy supply of the Korea Zinc group globally.
Ark Energy has conceived of the Han-Ho H2 Hub, its ‘flagship’ renewable energy export initiative. Multi-gigawatt hydrogen production potential is under investigation, co-located with renewable energy generation in Central Queensland, to be used as feedstock to create green ammonia on the east-coast of Australia, mainly for export purposes.
The project consortium includes three Korean conglomerates (SK Gas, Hanwha Impact and Korea Zinc) and is being led by Ark Energy which is leading development works in Australia. In September 2021, Korea Zinc, Hanwha Impact and SK Gas, and Australian-based Ark Energy formed the Hanguk-Hoju (Korea-Australia) Hydrogen (Han-Ho H2) consortium and signed a Memorandum of Understanding to develop a supply chain to export more than 1 million tonnes of green ammonia per annum (capped at a maximum of 1.8 million tonnes per annum) from Australia to the Republic of Korea by the early 2030s.
In July 2023, the project participants executed a Heads of Agreement to formalise the partnership, define roles and responsibilities and progress the project.
The proposed project would facilitate development of the (Ark Energy Owned) Collinsville Green Energy Hub, a large-scale wind and solar energy project proposed for an area near Collinsville around 90 kilometres south-west of Bowen in North Queensland. The site is located within the proposed Northern Queensland Renewable Energy Zone and is expected to generate up to 3,000 megawatts of renewable energy,
The project would make use of the existing (coal) export terminal facilities at Abbot Point. The Queensland Government has allocated AUD$8.5 million (under the Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan hydrogen hubs program) to progress master planning and develop common user infrastructure arrangements that would enable hydrogen-related exports from the terminal.
Land options for the hydrogen and ammonia production facilities are under review.
The project was awarded AUD$2.42 million in grant funding under the Federal Government’s Regional Hydrogen Hubs Program – Hub Development and Design funding stream to support a feasibility study. The feasibility study is expected to be completed in April 2024.
Reviewed: February 2024