Origin plans hydrogen hub in New South Wales

Origin Energy on February 28 announced plans for a potential hydrogen hub in Hunter Valley on Australia’s New South Wales (NSW). The project would aim to deliver a commercial-scale green hydrogen supply chain in the Newcastle industrial and port zone.

The plan is being underpinned by an agreement between Origin and Orica, which will see the companies collaborate on the proposed hub.

The Hunter Valley Hydrogen Hub would produce green hydrogen from sustainably sourced water and renewable electricity from Origin’s portfolio, using a grid connected 55 MW electrolyser, Origin said.

Origin added that the hub has the potential to drive greater hydrogen mobility applications with several heavy vehicles and transport users offering support to the project including Red Bus Services, Aluminium Revolutionary Chassis Company and ComfortDelGro Corporation Australia.

Produced hydrogen could fuel trucking and passenger bus operations in the Hunter, Central Coast and Greater Sydney regions and further support the NSW government’s goal of 10,000 fuel cell electric vehicles powered by hydrogen by the end of the decade, Origin said.

“By collaborating with Orica and other partners, we have an invaluable opportunity to further explore how green hydrogen could help to power a cleaner future for manufacturing, transport and industrial customers in Australia,” Origin CEO Frank Calabria said.

Project design will allow the hydrogen production facility to be scaled up through subsequent phases offering future expansion, including potential hydrogen export capability. Future stages will also include investigating the feasibility of converting the local gas distribution network to 100% hydrogen to further support a hydrogen supply chain in the area, Origin said.