Supporting a steady transition to renewable energy in central Queensland, the project will provide the region with the opportunity to capitalise on the developing global green ammonia industry, which is forecast to exceed $50bn by 2031, state the partners. The project is also reported to have the potential to create more than 550 jobs during construction, over 140 ongoing local operational jobs and approximately 1,900 indirect jobs, and attract a $4.7bn investment during its phased construction.

Under the terms of the agreement, Orica and H2U will explore opportunities for an exclusive domestic green ammonia offtake and supply agreement that would see green ammonia supplied directly to Orica’s Yarwun manufacturing plant from H2U’s proposed Yarwun green ammonia production plant.

The partners are also to consider the potential development of a green ammonia export terminal at the Port of Gladstone, leveraging the existing Orica ammonia storage capacity at the Fisherman’s Landing Wharf and the associated connecting infrastructure in the Gladstone State Development Area to facilitate large-scale exports.

H2-Hub Gladstone has a planned capacity of up to 3 GW of electrolysis and up to 5,000 t/d of green ammonia production. It is expected that the proposed facility will use 100% renewable energy from newbuild solar and wind resources in Queensland. The facility could also contribute to improving the reliability of renewable electricity supply, with the integration of new renewable generation assets in central Queensland.

Strategically located in the Gladstone region, the project would leverage pre-existing industrial and port ecosystems to produce and supply green ammonia directly to domestic customers, and support export capabilities of green ammonia to key North Asian and European economies.

It is hoped that the H2-Hub Gladstone project will be operational in 2025, with a later expansion phase to take place between 2027–2030.