The Federal Government has made funds available for a new ‘hydrogen hub’ in north Queensland. 

The government says it will invest up to $70 million to develop the Townsville Region Hydrogen Hub.

These hubs are regions where various producers, users and potential exporters of hydrogen across industrial, transport, export and energy markets are co-located.

Edify Energy is the successful recipient of this funding. Edify and its partners have pledged to deliver a 17.6 MW demonstration production facility with integrated renewable energy generation. 

The Townsville Hydrogen Hub should also produce green hydrogen for use at a local mineral processing plant and in zero-emissions transport.

The proponents say the Hub will support the production of 800 tonnes of green hydrogen per year, increasing to around 3,000 tonnes for domestic supply with a view to scaling up production to 150,000 tonnes per year for export.

Construction is set to begin next year and be complete in 2026, with initial commercial operations scheduled to start in 2027.

Funding for Hubs has already been announced for other projects in Kwinana, the Hunter, Gladstone, Bell Bay and Port Bonython.