Japan’s Sumitomo Corporation has formalised a partnership with a group of Australian entities to develop a hydrogen ecosystem at Gladstone in Queensland, the state government said on March 17. The area is home to three major LNG export facilities that supply Asian markets.

The Japanese company signed a memorandum of understanding with Gladstone Ports Corporation, Gladstone Regional Council, CQUniversity Australia and Australian Gas Infrastructure Group to develop the hydrogen ecosystem. 

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“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,” Queensland's minister for energy, renewables and hydrogen Mick de Brenni said.  

The minister added that with access to existing water and gas pipeline infrastructure and publicly-owned ports giving access to domestic and international markets, Queensland is well placed to supply renewable hydrogen to the world. 

Gladstone Port Corporation in a separate statement said that the ecosystem will initially pursue domestic offtake and mobility solutions before moving to enable large-scale export. 

The memorandum of understanding signed by these parties sets out a three-phased plan, starting this year, with the key end goal by 2030 to see hydrogen exported from Gladstone to the world.