Earth News from TerraDaily.com
Australian 'green' hydrogen project under threat
Sydney, Feb 4 (AFP) Feb 04, 2025
A major Australian "green" hydrogen project was in limbo Tuesday after a state government withdrew its backing, dealing a blow to the nation's renewable energy ambitions.

The project aims to build a hydrogen production plant in central Queensland state, which would produce low-emissions fuel destined for the likes of Japan and Singapore.

Although the Australian government has pledged US$40 million for construction, state officials pulled their support on Monday evening citing the spiralling cost.

Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen said Tuesday it was "surprising and disappointing".

"Green hydrogen plays to Australia's unique strengths and we're unapologetic about pursuing an industry that is recognised as having an important role in the future of manufacturing and energy in Australia, and globally," he said in a statement.

It was unclear whether the hydrogen hub could go ahead without state government support.

Bowen said it would be a "commercial decision for the parties involved".

Japan's Iwatani Corporation and Marubeni Corporation are listed as partners alongside Singapore-based asset manager Keppel.

A Queensland state spokesman said the cost of new infrastructure and shipping facilities would have amounted to hundreds of millions of US dollars.

The Australian government wants to build seven "hydrogen hubs" across the country.

Powered by solar panels and wind turbines, these hubs would split water into hydrogen and oxygen through a process called electrolysis.

The so-called "green" hydrogen would then be liquefied and shipped overseas where heavy industries such as steel manufacturing could use it as an environmentally friendly fuel.

Japan, Germany, Singapore and others are hungry for reliable hydrogen fuel supplies.

Despite its promise, green hydrogen production has been plagued by technical headaches and the eye-watering cost of bespoke infrastructure.

Australian utility company Origin Energy pulled out of a planned hydrogen plant in October, saying the global market was "developing more slowly than anticipated".

Mining magnate Andrew Forrest shelved similar plans months earlier.

The International Energy Agency last year noted that "several projects have been cancelled due to uncertainty about demand or regulations, financial hurdles, licencing and permitting issues".





Space News from SpaceDaily.com
PLD Space selected as leading contender for ESA sovereign launch initiative
UK thermal satellite firm wins ESA contract to deliver real time climate and security insights
UK opens competitive bid for GBP 75 million orbital cleanup mission

24/7 Energy News Coverage
China speeds up renewables building spree: report
French giant EDF will take 12.5 pecent stake in new UK nuclear plant
Major US teachers union teams up with AI giants

Military Space News, Nuclear Weapons, Missile Defense
BlackSky expands Gen-3 access to bolster Ukraine-focused intelligence operations
Maxar secures $205 million in multi-year deals to boost space capabilities across MEA
K2 Space validates satellite systems in orbit and fires record-breaking thruster

24/7 News Coverage
The long slow death of Norway's wild salmon
Beijing decries 'discriminatory' ban on Chinese purchases of US farmland
China's 'new farmers' learn to livestream in rural revitalisation


ADVERTISEMENT



All rights reserved. Copyright Agence France-Presse. Sections of the information displayed on this page (dispatches, photographs, logos) are protected by intellectual property rights owned by Agence France-Presse. As a consequence, you may not copy, reproduce, modify, transmit, publish, display or in any way commercially exploit any of the content of this section without the prior written consent of Agence France-Presse.