Major Project Status granted to TE H2 Darwin H2 green hydrogen hub at Middle Arm

A hydrogen processing facility planned for Middle Arm is now considered a Major Project. Here’s what it means for the Territory.

The Northern Territory government has awarded Major Project Status to global energy producer TE H2’s green hydrogen hub planned for the Middle Arm Sustainable Development Precinct.

TE H2 – a partnership between TotalEnergies and EREN Group – will use solar energy to produce more than 80,000 tonnes of renewable-based hydrogen each year at its Darwin H2 Hub green hydrogen production facility.

The hydrogen will be for domestic and international export and the facility is estimated to create 800 jobs during construction and 175 positions once operational.

TE H2 Australia Managing Director Kam Ho and Chief Minister Eva Lawler sign an agreement to grant the Darwin H2 Hub Major Project Status. Picture: Mitch Drescher

Managing Director of TE H2 Australia Kam Ho said receiving Major Project Status marked a significant milestone in the project’s development.

“The current objective is to pursue studies in order to consider Final Investment Decision by 2027,” he said.

“The proposed Darwin H2 Hub is TE H2’s cornerstone project and aims to be the Northern Territory’s first solar-powered green hydrogen production and export project, delivering sustainable and cost-competitive power for domestic use and global export.

“The Darwin H2 Hub will contribute to driving the Northern Territory government’s vision of achieving net zero emissions by 2050 and will enable other industries to move towards decarbonisation and sustainable industry.”

Chief Minister Eva Lawler said the “clean energy project” would “significantly contribute to the Territory’s drive to reduce greenhouse gas emissions”.

“With our abundant solar resources and our strategic location to support exports into the Indo-Pacific, the production of green hydrogen is a key opportunity for the Territory to address the growing demand for this green energy globally,” she said.

The government had been working Total Eren since 2022 to develop the project, before the company was acquired by French fossil fuel giant TotalEnergies in July.

Since then the initiative has been led by TE H2, a new partnership owned 80 per cent by TotalEnergies and 20 per cent by EREN group.

The company will continue to progress its project development, working towards design of the downstream facility, transmission infrastructure and upstream generation facility.

TE H2’s is one of five proponents awarded “not to deal” commitments by the NT government to provide certainty for land at Middle Arm while plans are developed.

Others include Fortescue Future Industries (green hydrogen), Tivan (vanadium oxides), Tamboran Resources Limited (liquefied natural gas) and Avenira (lithium-ferro-phosphate).