South Australia is primed to become a first-mover, low-cost hydrogen supplier with the State Government committing $593 million to the Hydrogen Jobs Plan to build a world-leading hydrogen power station, electrolysers and storage facility near Whyalla.
The project includes:
- 250MWe of electrolysers
- 200MW of power generation
- a renewable hydrogen storage facility.
The 250Mwe of electrolysers will be among the world’s largest, and the 200MW hydrogen power station will be a new source of flexible renewable power. It will provide additional grid stability by using excess renewable energy generated from large-scale wind and solar farms to provide a consistent output of supply.
The associated hydrogen storage facility will be a source of hydrogen for the power station and industry looking to transition to net-zero production methods.
Construction of the electrolysers, power station and storage facility is scheduled to begin in 2024, with operation slated for early 2026.
According to a statement from the Office of Hydrogen Power South Australia, the jobs plans aims to:
- provide jobs for South Australians
- enhance South Australia’s grid security, through new dispatchable generation
- prove large-scale hydrogen production and generation technology
- help unlock pipelines of renewable energy developments and business opportunities
- activate other hydrogen projects in development, including export-focused projects
- support South Australia’s continued clean energy transition and decarbonisation.
Seventy percent of South Australia’s electricity is generated by renewable resources, with the state intending to be a net 100% renewable energy generator by 2030.
The government is using ICN Gateway to call for local suppliers and is encouraging first nations businesses, to register their interest in the project. Find out more, or register your intertest on the South Australia’s Hydrogen Jobs Plan – hydrogen power station, electrolysers, and storage facility ICN Gateway page.
