New Zealand-based Hiringa Energy and Australian group Sundown Pastoral will develop the Good Earth Green Hydrogen and Ammonia Project (GEGHA), which will produce ammonia-based fertiliser & hydrogen for fuel cells to support cotton farming near Moree, New South Wales. The partners are already looking to expand to multiple production projects in the area.
The East Kimberley Clean Energy project will leverage the region’s solar & freshwater resources and an ‘export-ready’ harbour to create the renewable ammonia production hub. Construction is expected by the end of 2025, and production by the end of 2028. The project will be part owned & operated by traditional landowners.
Set to reach FID in 2027, the WGEH project will seek to utilise local wind & solar resources and policy incentives in Western Australia to deliver up to 20 million tonnes of renewable ammonia annually. Korea Electric Power Corporation has agreed to jointly develop the project.
A fast-growing ecosystem of startups is progressing various technology pathways in Australia and New Zealand. Melbourne-based Jupiter Ionics is developing an electrolytic cell that will directly reduce nitrogen to ammonia under mild temperature and pressure conditions. In New Zealand, Liquium is embarking on a pilot-scale deployment of its miniaturised Haber Bosch technology. The University of Newcastle and Element One are progressing validation and pilot-phase deployments of AMMONIAC - a novel, “chemical-looping” ammonia production system. And in Sydney, PlasmaLeap is developing a plasma-based system, with on-farm trials already planned.
Origin Energy has been awarded AUD70 million in funding from the Australian federal government to progress the Hunter Valley Hydrogen Hub. The electrolytic hydrogen facility will be located next door to project partner Orica’s existing complex on Kooragang Island in Newcastle, and the bulk of hydrogen produced will be used for ammonia production. Learn more from Orica (and take a tour of their site) at this year's APAC conference.