’Truly world-leading’: $45.7 million for Edify Energy’s Townsville green hydrogen

A Townsville-based green hydrogen project has received $45.7 million from the German and Australian Governments. See where the facility is going.

Member for Mundingburra Les Walker and Townsville Mayor Jenny Hill at the Lansdown Eco-Industrial Precinct at Woodstock - where the EGH2 project is being built. Picture: Evan Morgan

Townsville is one step closer to becoming a green hydrogen manufacturing and export hub after the German and Australian Governments committed $45.7 million in funding on Friday.

The millions are being funnelled into the $400 million+ ‘EGH2’ project at the Woodstock Lansdown Eco-Industrial Precinct, 45km south of Townsville.

EGH2 will use solar panels to provide the energy to manufacture green hydrogen before exporting the product via the Port of Townsville.

Edify Energy founder and chief executive John Cole said the funding was a testament to Edify’s successful track record. “Australia’s place on the world stage as a leading provider of green energy is taking shape,” he said.

EGH2 was created by Australian-based Edify Energy and German partner Siemens Energy Global.

The German Government is pouring €16.4 million (AUD$25 million) into the initiative; the Australian Government has committed $20.7 million.

Germany has a national target of doubling its green hydrogen electrolyser capacity to 10GW by 2030.

Edify Energy is a member of Townsville Enterprise and the NQH2 Constorium.

Townsville Enterprise chief executive Claudia Brumme-Smith. Picture: Townsville Enterprise

Townsville Enterprise chief executive Claudia Brumme-Smith said the funding puts Townsville on the “global map”.

“It’s wonderful recognition for all the hard work the Edify team has put into being a truly world-leading project,” Ms Brumme-Smith said.

Townsville mayor Jenny Hill offered her congratulations to John Cole and Edify Energy, noting he was a “local boy from Iggy Park who was making inroads into renewable energy”, both locally and around the world.

Townsville Mayor Jenny Hill speaks about the Lansdown Eco-Industrial Precinct at the Townsville Bulletin Business Breakfast: Unlock the North event. PICTURE: MATT TAYLOR.

Given that the project was linked to Siemens, one of the biggest manufacturers in renewable energy, she said it was clear they had faith in Edify Energy’s technology.

She said the green energy hub not only had the potential to help stabilise Townsville’s economic future, but also the western corridor through to Hughenden.

“It means that we should be talking about a Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) on new energy for the region,” Cr Hill said.

“There’s going to be big opportunities, and one of the shortfalls we have is ensuring that we’ll have people trained to meet the future demands ... so we can maximise what we do here.

“It really should be something that considered by our two universities - Central Queensland University and James Cook University.”

Long-term plans for the EGH2 project involve deploying a 17.5MW Siemens Energy electrolyser with 12MW solar PV integrated behind the metre to produce renewable hydrogen for domestic, industrial and transport applications.

Originally published as ’Truly world-leading’: $45.7 million for Edify Energy’s Townsville green hydrogen