Woodside wins bid for New Zealand hydrogen project

Australian independent Woodside Energy has been selected as the preferred bidder for the development of the Southern Green Hydrogen project in New Zealand.

Woodside was selected ahead of renewable hydrogen developer Fortescue Future Industries, which is 100pc owned by Australian iron ore producer Fortescue Metals.

The project, designed to add 600MW of electrolyser capacity to the 850MW Manapouri hydropower station, had been originally planned by New Zealand utilities Meridian Energy and Contact Energy. But Contact has decided to no longer continue to the next phase of the project, although it has indicated an interest in continuing to support the project as a potential electricity supplier, Meridian said.

Japanese trading house Mitsui is also in discussions to join the project and develop the potential market for ammonia offtake, with the aim of collaborating on a full hydrogen and ammonia supply chain. Woodside, Meridian and Mitsui will work towards starting engineering and design work for the project, subject to finalising commercial arrangements, and move it to a final investment decision stage, Meridian said.

By Kevin Morrison