Port of Bundaberg to be home to green hydrogen development

Investment of more than $400 million is expected to be injected into the Wide Bay region thanks to a an Australian-first joint venture.

The Port of Bundaberg will soon be home to a large scale hydrogen production centre with the ability to produce up to 30,000 metric tonnes annually. Photo: GPC

The transformation of Bundaberg and the Wide Bay into renewable energy central continues with a multimillion-dollar carbon capture venture.

The project will allow the production of hydrogen and green ammonia for export and domestic use in Bundaberg, an investment intended to bring long term investment of more than $400 million to the area.

Clean Holdings Pty Ltd and Singapore based CAC-H2 Pte Ltd have joined together for the venture.

CAC-H2 is already developing a hydrogen plant in the Hunter Valley using waste wood and sustainable forestry biomass.

A deepwater wharf will be built at Bundaberg, specifically for large scale green hydrogen production and exports to Japan and South Korea.

Hydrogen will be produced for domestic use, too.

Up to 30,000 metric tonnes is expected to be produced each year, with an eye on a December 2022 start date.

A deep wharf will be built as part of the project to allow hydrogen exports to Japan and South Korea.

Clean Holdings CEO Ken Mathews said Bundaberg was in line to become a major renewables hub and central to the growth of the hydrogen economy.

“We have already started to develop the various sites for our Hydrogen production facilities,” Mr Mathews said.

“With the global sugar market contracting, there is a need to stimulate local business and to provide new employment and training opportunities to locals.”

CAC-H2 Pte Ltd CEO Glenn Davies said his company is bringing the first “negative carbon” green hydrogen production process to Australia which supports Queensland’s climate transition strategy of a zero emissions future that targets jobs, industries, communities, and the environment.

“We have developed a unique circular model that will include working with the sugar cane industry and local farmers to utilise the waste biomass from agricultural activities,” Mr Davies said.

H2H-C2 CEO Glenn Davies said the hydrogen produced would be available for domestic use across the Bundaberg region.

“ This will have positive opportunities for economic development emissions reductions and stronger collaboration in business.”

Mr Davies said sugar cane growers and local farmers could not only supply their waste material as a feedstock for the Hydrogen Plants but would also have access to large quantities of biochar, biofuels & wood vinegar as by-products of the gasification process.

“The blending of biochar and wood vinegar makes it a promising tool for regenerative agriculture & pest control.” He said.

CAC-H2 will be located within the Renewable Energy Zone of the Bundaberg State Development Area, declared in February 2017 in response to the growing demand to land for port-related and industrial activities around the Port of Bundaberg.