Plug Power Inc will supply its GenEco Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) electrolysers for the 50MW Hunter Valley Hydrogen Hub project in Newcastle, New South Wales—the largest green hydrogen project in Australia to reach financial investment decision (FID).
Orica is developing the Hunter Valley Hydrogen Hub adjacent to its existing ammonia manufacturing facility on Kooragang Island. The facility will use renewable electricity to produce renewable hydrogen via electrolysis, progressively replacing natural gas in the company’s production of low-carbon ammonia and ammonium nitrate.
At full capacity, the facility is expected to produce approximately 4,700 tonnes of renewable hydrogen per year, displacing around 7.5% of Orica’s natural gas consumption at Kooragang Island.
Plug CEO José Luis Crespo said, “Reaching FID on the Hunter Valley Hydrogen Hub is a significant milestone for Orica, for Australia’s hydrogen industry, and for Plug.
“Being selected as the electrolyser OEM for the country’s largest renewable hydrogen project to reach FID, and the first Hydrogen Headstart project to move into the execution phase, reflects the confidence our customers place in Plug’s technology and our ability to deliver at scale. Australia is a key part of our global growth story, and this project reinforces our expanding presence across the Asia-Pacific region.”
Orica Group president AusPac and sustainability Germán Morales said, “We selected Plug as our electrolyser OEM because of its proven track record in delivering large-scale PEM systems and their ability to support a project of this complexity and ambition.
“We look forward to bringing this facility online and supplying low-carbon ammonia to the mining, agriculture, and industrial customers who depend on us.”
Plug has a significant presence in Australia, having previously supported electrolyser projects across the country, including an electrolyser in Townsville that has already started production, and an electrolyser in Chinchilla, Queensland.
