Future’s Green with H2U
October 7, 2021
The location and facilities of the Port City of Gladstone are luring in hydrogen heavy weights from across the globe.
Hydrogen Utility (H2U) along with industry leaders and key stakeholders including Gladstone Ports Corporation (GPC), will discuss the future of hydrogen at the Gladstone Engineering Alliance’s CQH2 Hydrogen Forum this week.
The Australian green hydrogen company plans on building the export precinct of H2U’s proposed H2-Hub Gladstone green hydrogen and green ammonia Project at Yarwun, enabling access to global markets for their products. As one of several mediums of transport for hydrogen, ammonia is emerging as an option as a fuel source for power generation, shipping and heavy machinery.
H2U’s founder and Chief Executive Officer Dr Attilio Pigneri said the Port of Gladstone was in an ideal location for green ammonia exports and would create an exciting hub in the global transition to decarbonized shipping fuels.
“We see great potential in this project driving the global transition to a new internationally tradeable, decarbonized energy,” Dr Pigneri said.
GPC’s Chief Operating Officer, Craig Walker, confirmed a Letter of Intent had been signed between GPC and H2U to advance discussions on ammonia export facilities.
“Hydrogen is an exciting opportunity for the region and GPC is readying to position Queensland into the global markets,” Mr Walker said.
“As well as discussions with H2U, GPC is working with a number of other proponents to facilitate hydrogen trade in the region,” he said.
Minister for Energy, Renewables and Hydrogen Mick de Brenni, who is opening the CQH2 Hydrogen Forum on Friday, said renewable hydrogen was a multi-billion dollar opportunity that would create decent, secure jobs for Queenslanders, particularly in regional areas like Gladstone.
“We know Queenslanders have what it takes to create new industry,” Mr de Brenni said.
“Gladstone is a powerhouse that was at the heart of creating our LNG export industry and can do it again with renewable hydrogen, with new, decarbonised industry and the jobs for Queenslanders.”
Minister for Regional Development and Manufacturing and Member for Gladstone Glenn Butcher said Gladstone was an industrial powerhouse.
“What we’re seeing now is a new explosion of projects coming to Gladstone and I think Gladstone is set up perfectly to make the most of these opportunities,” Mr Butcher said.
“What we want to now see on the back of these projects is a new pipeline of opportunities for local manufacturers to become part of the supply chain supporting the hydrogen industry and created good, secure long term regional jobs.”
The proposed H2-Hub Gladstone project will be a major regional economic development, and the first, export-oriented green hydrogen and ammonia manufacturing facility, using 100 percent of renewable energy from solar and wind developments in Queensland.
The two-stage project is expected to drive more than $4 billion dollars in investment and create hundreds of jobs.
“Developing flexible technologies for integrating renewable energies into green hydrogen and derivative products will deliver new exports and industries for Australia and drive further investments, economic growth and most importantly stable long term employment opportunities for generations to come,” Dr Pigneri said.
