Ground was broken in Wodonga on one of Australia’s largest renewable hydrogen plants – a facility that is predicted to cut CO2 emissions by around 4,000t each year from 2025. The project will deliver renewable hydrogen to over 40,000 residential and industrial customers.
Hydrogen Park Murray Valley is a $65.4 million project that will service the Albury-Wodonga region. It will produce 500t of hydrogen annually using a 10MW electrolyser. The electrolyser will have eight times the capacity of the largest electrolyser currently operating in Australia.
Federal Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Chris Bowen, said, “The Hydrogen Park Murray Valley project represents a milestone investment in Australia’s clean energy future. It is predicted to displace around 4,000t of carbon dioxide every year, helping us tackle climate change and decarbonising the hard-to-abate industry.
“Producing renewable hydrogen on this scale has never been done in Australia before, so this project is blazing a trail to scale up green hydrogen production, and that’s why we’re backing it.”
Renewable hydrogen produced at the site will displace natural gas supplied locally at blends of up to ten per cent.
The Hydrogen Park Murray Valley project is expected to support up to 50 local jobs during construction and be operational by 2025. With its 10MW capacity, the plant’s electrolyser—which uses electricity to split water into hydrogen and oxygen—will have eight times the capacity of the largest electrolyser currently operating in Australia.
Adjacent to the Hydrogen Park Murray Valley project, recycled water from North East Water’s Wodonga Wastewater Treatment Plant will be a future water supply for the production of renewable hydrogen.
Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Josh Wilson, said, “The Hydrogen Park Murray Valley project provides an excellent opportunity to blend renewable hydrogen into the local gas network to power thousands of homes and businesses in the Victoria–New South Wales border region.
“Once complete, the plant will be producing renewable hydrogen that reduces local emissions from day one, potentially supplying additional markets as they move towards net zero.
“It’s an exciting opportunity to invest in the decarbonisation of households and local industry while securing Australia’s net zero energy future.”
The Hydrogen Park Murray Valley is an initiative of the Australian Gas Infrastructure Group. The Australian Renewable Energy Agency has committed $36.1 million to the project, and the Victorian Government is contributing $12.3 million. The Clean Energy Finance Corporation has provided additional financing of $3.22 million through the Advancing Hydrogen Fund.
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