Sumitomo Corporation has formalised its partnership with Gladstone Ports Corporation (GPC), Gladstone Regional Council (GRC), CQUniversity Australia (CQU) and Australian Gas Industry Group (AGIG) to develop Australia’s first hydrogen ecosystem in Central Queensland.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) outlines a three-phased plan, commencing in 2021, with the key end goal by 2030 to see hydrogen exported from Gladstone to the world.
Minister for Energy, Renewables and Hydrogen, Mick de Brenni, said the collaboration shows international confidence in Queensland as a global destination for investment and as a future reliable renewable energy exporter.
“Today’s signing is a major endorsement of international investor confidence, that a global corporation in Sumitomo is working with Queensland and local companies to deliver renewable hydrogen,” Minister de Brenni said.
“With access to existing water and gas pipeline infrastructure and publicly-owned ports giving crucial access to domestic and international markets, Queensland is well placed to supply renewable hydrogen to the world,” he said.
Sumitomo Corporation’s Executive Officer, Hajime Mori, said the Gladstone’s Hydrogen Ecosystem project is backed by with exceptional solar radiance and sophisticated regional partners and infrastructure
“Gladstone is a unique world-class location for renewable hydrogen production and regional utilisation with significant export potential,” Mr Mori said.
Minister for Regional Development and Manufacturing and Member for Gladstone, Glenn Butcher, said by 2030, Queensland will need a fully integrated, export-scale hydrogen supply chain to meet the demand from countries like Japan.
“Fortunately, Gladstone has an outstanding record in the development of energy exports from a standing start, considering we grew our $70 billion LNG industry in just under a decade.”
CEO of AGIG, Ben Wilson, added that building on the existing partnership with the Queensland Government on the Hydrogen Park Gladstone (HyP Gladstone) will bring them closer to their vision to convert Australia’s gas networks and cities to renewable hydrogen.
“HyP Gladstone is an important stepping stone to achieving our vision for full network decarbonisation with hydrogen across the regions we serve. The project aims to blend up to 10 per cent hydrogen into Gladstone’s entire existing gas network with plans to be fully operational next year,” Mr Wilson said.
“[We] are looking forward to supporting Gladstone’s vision to be a key hub for Queensland’s domestic and hydrogen export industry, just as it is for natural gas today.”
The Gladstone Hydrogen Ecosystem design study is targeted to commence next month.
