In 2021, the Port of Townsville signed three Memorandums of Understanding to deliver and export hydrogen cementing the region’s bid to become a renewable energy powerhouse. The companies, Origin Energy, Ark Energy Corporation and Edify Energy have all shown their faith and commitment in positioning Townsville as a global leader for clean energy exports.
Port of Townsville Chief Executive Officer Ranee Crosby said green hydrogen opportunities held great promise for the North’s environmental and economic sustainability.
“Townsville enjoys more than 320 days of sunshine each year, making us perfectly positioned to take advantage of solar technology for hydrogen production,” said Ms Crosby.
“Combined with the Port of Townsville’s existing trade connectivity to 75 per cent of Asia and key areas across North Queensland via road and rail networks, Townsville is poised to put Queensland on the world map for hydrogen.
“The North has enormous hydrogen export potential and there is already an appetite for Australia’s renewable hydrogen among countries like Japan and South Korea.
“The industry's ambition to build a hydrogen future aligns perfectly with other key growth areas in the region such as wind and solar, sparking new project development opportunities and sustainable prosperity for North Queensland.”
The focus on green hydrogen projects is well-timed for the Port of Townsville, which is currently undergoing the biggest transformation in its 157-year history – the Port Expansion Project.
The first stage of the Project – the $232 million Channel Upgrade project – is currently underway and, when complete in 2023, will provide access for larger vessels through channel widening, as well as reclaiming 62 hectares of Port land. In future stages of the Port Expansion Project, a total 158 hectares of land will be reclaimed, making way for the development of six new berths and associated infrastructure, including the proposed North Queensland Hydrogen Hub.
“The Channel Upgrade project, and future stages of the Port Expansion Project, are vital to ensuring the Port remains a premier gateway for the North and capable of supporting emerging hydrogen infrastructure,” said Ms Crosby.
“There are many moving parts as we work towards exporting green hydrogen at a commercial scale and it is advantageous that the Port is already so far along in its next major growth phase.’’
Promoting Future fuels such as hydrogen also fits well with the Port’s recently released 30-year sustainability plan, Port Vision 2030, which includes being carbon neutral by 2025, undertaking catchment area improvement projects to reduce sediment and planting one million trees.
