Gladstone quickly becoming clean energy capital of Queensland
Gladstone is quickly becoming the hydrogen powerhouse with a number of projects and global renewable energy heavyweights calling the port city home.
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Gladstone is quickly becoming the clean energy capital of Queensland with the region currently home to the highest number of hydrogen projects in the pipeline across the state.
A cluster of global companies have chosen the Port City as the home of major clean fuel developments, cementing the Gladstone State Development Area’s status as a hotspot for green energy giants.
Alpha HPA and Andrew ‘Twiggy’ Forrest’s Fortescue Future Industries are among the heavyweights of the renewable energy sector building on Queensland Government-developed land within the Gladstone SDA.
About one third of the 40-plus green hydrogen-related projects across the state sit in Central Queensland, including a number of major ventures flagged for Gladstone.
Economic Development Queensland general manager, Debbie McNamara, said the Gladstone SDA was set to skyrocket as a destination for clean energy development.
“These companies could have gone anywhere in Australia, and they chose Gladstone – so that’s a strong vote of confidence in the region’s future,” she said.
“With access to Port of Gladstone and other industrial infrastructure, EDQ’s Aldoga and Yarwun sites are ideal for large-scale projects tapping into hydrogen export markets.
“There’s also the benefit of joining a group of established companies within a purpose-designed estate and in a region with strong manufacturing and export skills.”
Gladstone’s leading role in the growing green energy sector is expected to bring benefits across construction, manufacturing, and a range of other local service industries.
By June 2024 there are expected to be more than 5500 jobs at the Aldoga and Yarwun sites.
“We’re focused on generating opportunities for growth through projects that create quality local jobs, setting Gladstone up for generations to come,” Ms McNamara said.
“We anticipate interest in industrial land within the Gladstone SDA, and other regional areas, will build as more businesses explore opportunities to invest in Queensland.”
The Hydrogen Utility (H2U) is among the companies that aim to harness the region’s potential for green hydrogen.
The company secured a site at Yarwun for its planned $4.7 billion green hydrogen and ammonia H2-Hub and also secured a coordinated project declaration in April last year and the terms of reference for an environmental-impact statement in February this year.
It is currently engaged in front-end engineering and environmental studies.
The proposed two-stage development, expected to create more than 500 jobs, will support decarbonisation of existing nearby industrial operations in Yarwun and connect to port facilities to export green hydrogen and ammonia to offshore markets including Japan and Korea.
H2U founder and CEO, Dr Attilio Pigneri, said Gladstone was the ideal location to support the scope and ambition of the project.
“Working with the team at EDQ, we have been able to secure a uniquely strategic site for our H2-Hub Gladstone project, with proximity to domestic offtakers, water and power infrastructure and connectivity to existing port facilities,” he said.
“These elements, combined with the co-ordinated project approval framework that is available for projects within the State Development Area, and the breadth of infrastructure and operational capabilities associated with the Port of Gladstone, have been the key to our developing strategic relationships with cornerstone offtakers in the domestic and export markets, including our partnerships with Orica, the leading global manufacturer of ammonia and technical explosives, and Korea East-West Power, the operator of one of the largest portfolio of power generation assets in Korea.”
As Central Queensland’s renewables boom continues, several pumped hydro schemes are also being explored across regional Queensland as the state’s transition to clean energy ramps up.
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