Western Australia provides hydrogen project funding

Western Australia's (WA) state government will provide A$117.5mn ($84.6mn) in funding for planned hydrogen hubs in the iron ore-rich Pilbara region and in the Mid-West region.

The Pilbara plan involves development of a hydrogen or ammonia pipeline connecting the Maitland and Burrup strategic industrial areas and port upgrades to facilitate export potential, said WA state premier Mark McGowan. Burrup already includes the 16.3mn t/yr North West Shelf LNG and 4.3mn t/yr Pluto LNG and will host a second Pluto production LNG train that was sanctioned this week.

Norwegian fertilizer producer Yara has a fertiliser plant at Burrup and earlier this year unveiled plans for a green ammonia project at Pilbara. The Pilbara hydrogen hub is also being supported by the Australian federal government as part of its national hydrogen plan.

The Mid-West proposal includes construction of renewable energy and road infrastructure at the Oakajee strategic industrial area, as well as connecting the area to power and water, and developing hydrogen refuelling infrastructure. It is near to where BP is planning to develop a pilot plant to produce 4,000 t/yr of hydrogen and up to 20,000 t/yr of ammonia near the port of Geraldton.

By Kevin Morrison