Blueprint Unveiled for $100 Million Clean Energy Hub at Port of Newcastle
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Port of Newcastle has revealed the final master plan for its $100 million Clean Energy Precinct, with the aim of establishing the site as the most advanced clean energy development in the country.
Presented today by Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen, the master plan showcases the precinct's preparedness for international investment.
Spanning 220 hectares on Kooragang Island, the precinct is set to facilitate the production, storage, domestic distribution, and export of green hydrogen and ammonia. Supported by Commonwealth funding, the initiative aims to convert Australia's largest coal port into a clean energy hub by 2030.
Front End Engineering Design (FEED) and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) studies are presently in progress, led by engineering firms Lumea (electrical), coNEXA (water), and GHD (infrastructure). These studies will inform planning approvals and site layout, expediting the construction of production and export facilities.
Port of Newcastle CEO Craig Carmody stated, "This is the design that Port of Newcastle is offering global clean energy production companies and directs the planning approvals the Port will be seeking."
“We have received strong international interest in occupying these sites, particularly from partners in Germany, Japan and South Korea.”
The design encompasses hydrogen and ammonia production facilities, a recycled water plant, associated pipelines, laydown areas, and staging zones. Additionally, it includes electrical infrastructure like grid connections, transmission corridors, and substations. The project is anticipated to consume 1.6 gigawatts of electricity and 22 megalitres of recycled water, with no adverse impact on community utilities.
The Clean Energy Precinct is forecasted to generate over 5,800 new jobs and contribute more than $4.2 billion to the Hunter Region's gross product by 2040, supporting Australia's hydrogen export aspirations, with a projected demand for green ammonia surpassing 600,000 tonnes per annum from 2030.
“The Hunter has been an industrial and economic powerhouse for decades, making the Port of Newcastle an ideal location for a Clean Energy Precinct that can support decarbonisation of heavy industry and connect Australia’s renewable resources to the world,” Bowen remarked.
Deputy Speaker Sharon Claydon added, “Land once earmarked for a coal terminal will now be at the forefront of the global clean energy transition.”
More details are available here.
Source: Infrastructure Magazine
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