The Commonwealth and Western Australian Governments have finalised a $140 million agreement to build a hydrogen hub in the Pilbara.
The Pilbara Hydrogen Hub will be a major centre for hydrogen production and export, with the potential to become an international gateway to Australian-made green steel and iron.
Construction on the road and intersection will start this year, with the hub becoming operational in mid-2028. A planned pipeline could enable hydrogen production of around 492,000 tonnes per year—enough to decarbonise existing ammonia production on the Burrup Peninsula.
Related article: New prize to spur Aussie innovation in hydrogen
The combined $140 million investment ($70 million each from the Commonwealth and WA Government) will help build infrastructure to support hydrogen exports and renewable energy production, as well as fund activities for a Clean Energy Training and Research Institute.
The institute will provide practical, job-focused training in renewable energy and hydrogen for Pilbara residents, including First Nations peoples.
Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen said the hub would ensure the Pilbara’s future as a major energy producer and exporter.
“This hub will bring a new clean energy industry to the Pilbara, supporting the region’s world-class industries well into the future,” Minister Bowen said.
“WA is already a global mining and export powerhouse, and it’s now primed to become a world-leading hydrogen supplier as well.”
The announcement was welcomed by Australian Hydrogen Council CEO Dr Fiona Simon.
“These hub projects are being led by world-leading developers and partners, and will need continued support from all levels of government to address common user infrastructure, social licence and regulatory requirements,” Dr Simon said.
“Hydrogen has a clear role to play in meeting Australia’s net zero ambitions especially for the hard-to-abate sectors, so we now need to focus on implementation and continue to share and learn from these large-scale projects to accelerate the transition and drive down the cost of hydrogen.
Related article: Edify gets $48M funding for Townsville Green Hydrogen Hub
The seven hydrogen hubs being funded by the Australian Government include:
- Hunter Valley Hydrogen Hub, NSW—Origin Energy in collaboration with Orica
- Port Bonython Hydrogen Hub, SA—SA Government
- Central Queensland Hydrogen Hub, QLD—Stanwell with Iwatani Corporation, Kansai Electric Power Company, Marubeni, and Keppel Infrastructure.
- H2Kwinana Hydrogen Hub—bp Australia
- Bell Bay Hydrogen Hub—TAS Government with partners TasPorts, TasNetworks, TasWater, TasIrrigation and the Bell Bay Advanced Manufacturing Zone
- Townsville Regional Hydrogen Hub, QLD—Edify Energy with partners Siemens Energy, TAFE Queensland, James Cook University and Townsville Enterprise (TEL)
- Pilbara Hydrogen Hub, WA—WA Government
