The Queensland Government has committed $15 million to support development of a publicly owned hydrogen export facility in Gladstone.
The funding will help in the development of the large-scale electrolysis and liquefication project in Central Queensland that has the capacity to produce 800 tonnes per day of clean, green hydrogen by the early 2030s.
Steven Miles, Deputy Premier, said the State Government is sending a message, especially to its partners in Japan, that Queensland is the ideal international supplier for reliable, affordable, and clean energy.
“Queensland is powering ahead in the new, global renewable energy era, in fact we are setting the pace. And today we are taking another significant step towards cementing Queensland’s standing as a global green hydrogen powerhouse.
“This investment in publicly owned energy corporation Stanwell will support front-end engineering and design studies for a project that could eventually be the largest renewable hydrogen project in Queensland.”
Mick de Brenni, Minister for Hydrogen, said global markets were increasingly hungry for green hydrogen to help meet their decarbonisation efforts.
“Every credible expert is saying that renewable energy is the biggest opportunity since the industrial revolution. And Queensland, with its abundance of sunshine, wind and potential for pumped hydro energy storage, is in prime position to satiate an increasingly hungry world hydrogen market.
“This $15 million in fast-tracked funding – through the $2 billion Queensland Renewable Energy and Hydrogen Jobs Fund – will also help future planning for supply chain and workforce opportunities.”
Stanwell’s Gladstone project is being developed in partnership with international groups such as Iwatani Corporation, Kawasaki Electric Power Company, Marubeni, and Australian energy infrastructure business APA Group.
Cameron Dick, Treasurer and Minister for Trade and Investment, said the project could be the catalyst to create up to 8900 new jobs.
“It could deliver more than $17.2 billion in hydrogen exports and $12.4 billion to Queensland’s gross domestic product over its 30-year lifespan.”