Pilbara Hydrogen Hub

Overview

The Pilbara region is located in the north of Western Australia and is one of the largest regions in the State. The economy of the Pilbara region is dominated by mining (especially iron ore) and energy (especially natural gas), which contribute significantly to Australia’s economy.

Major settlements of the region are Port Headland, Karratha, and Newman, with key port facilities at Port Hedland, Dampier, and Port Walcott.

The Pilbara region has access to abundant renewable resources, and with its existing industrial infrastructure, is considered a location highly capable of supporting large-scale hydrogen / ammonia production for use in regional applications and export.

Funding

In February 2024, in a joint release, the Australian and West Australian Governments announced the finalisation of a AUD$140 million agreement to support the building of a hydrogen hub in the Pilbara. The combined AUD$140 million (AUD$70 million from each of the Commonwealth and Western Australian Governments) will focus on the provision of common-user infrastructure, skills development and future expansion works required to grow hydrogen opportunities in the Pilbara region.

The Pilbara Hydrogen Hub initiative comprises, amongst other things, a hydrogen or ammonia pipeline system with a transfer capacity equivalent to 2–5 GW of renewable energy, the facilitation of a Clean Energy Training and Research Institute (to provide vocational and university-level training), the upgrade of key infrastructure at Lumsden Point (Port Hedland), and Hub expansion studies.

In June 2024, the Western Australian Government announced a call for applications to design the Clean Energy Training and Research Institute. In August 2024, the Western Australian Government announced that construction has begun on key Pilbara Hydrogen Hub road upgrades at Port Hedland, with Practical Completion expected in October 2025.

The hub is anticipated to become operational around mid-2028. A proposed pipeline could enable clean ammonia production of around 6 million tonnes per annum.

In regards hydrogen-hubs eligible programs, in the October 2022 2022-23 federal budget, the Australian Government included AUD$565 million to invest in enabling infrastructure in the Pilbara region of Western Australia to support emerging green industries and technologies.

Projects

The geographic location of Tasmanian projects listed in Western Australia can be viewed on the HyResource projects map.

 

Reviewed: June 2025