Construction has officially commenced at a facility that will make Gladstone the first city in Australia with an entire gas network supplying customers with a hydrogen gas blend.
Queensland Deputy Premier Steven Miles visited Gladstone earlier this week to launch works on the project that will be delivered with funding support from the Queensland Government.
Australian Gas Infrastructure Group’s (AGIG’s) Australian Gas Network is building the blending facility to deliver renewable hydrogen into the city’s gas network and will service approximately 770 properties.
AGIG will deliver up to 10 per cent hydrogen gas to customers and has plans to eventually convert its entire Gladstone network to renewable gas.
When operational, by early 2024, HyP Gladstone will supply nearly 800 homes and businesses in Gladstone and Barney Point with a blend of up to 10 per cent renewable hydrogen in their gas supply with no changes needed to appliances, connections or customer bills.
AGIG CEO, Craig de Laine said: “The importance of renewable gas, including hydrogen, is becoming clearer by the day. Customers, including our large industrial customers, are keen to access renewable gas options such as renewable hydrogen to help meet Safeguard targets and to deliver Queensland’s low carbon objectives more broadly.”
“HyP Gladstone builds on AGIG’s experience in renewable hydrogen project development in Australia. As Australia’s first city-wide project, HyP Gladstone takes a leap forward in showcasing the low-carbon future of gas supply in Australia.”
“Importantly, renewable gases such as hydrogen can be delivered safely, reliably and at very little incremental cost through our world-class gas distribution network.”
“AGIG is focussed on delivering its vision to provide renewable gas to our customers across Australia, including in Queensland. This includes by providing at least 10% renewable gas by 2030 and 100% renewable gas by no later than 2050,” said Mr de Laine.
“We appreciate the Queensland Government’s ongoing support of HyP Gladstone, and the broader actions they are taking to develop a hydrogen industry in the state. Queensland is very well placed to benefit from this new low-carbon industry and the jobs it will create, including in regions such as Gladstone.”
“Initiatives like the Queensland Government’s Hydrogen Industry Development Fund, the Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan and the landmark Hydrogen Industry Development Amendment Bill recently introduced to parliament are important parts of enabling greater investment in hydrogen and renewable gas infrastructure”.
The Queensland Government’s Hydrogen Industry Development Fund has already committed more than $2.72 million to the project.
New training, research and job opportunities for the region are expected to be created as an outcome of this project.
As outlined in the Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan, the Hydrogen Park Gladstone project will also contribute to the state’s renewable energy targets of 70 per cent by 2032 and net zero by 2050.
Once the facility is complete, it will serve as the first in nation to blend renewable hydrogen into a whole gas distribution network for residential, commercial and industrial customers.
