A group of leading global energy players, led by Energy Estate, has formed to enable Australia’s first ‘hydrogen valley’ in NSW’s Hunter Valley, potentially unlocking the renewable energy resources of the Central West, New England and Hunter-Central Coast renewable energy zones.

The Hunter Hydrogen Network (H2N) project – a large-scale hydrogen production, transportation and export project – has proposed a plan to help enable the development of the hydrogen economy in the Hunter Valley, in partnership with hydrogen users and exporters.

The organisations include a leading integrated energy utility AGL, leading energy infrastructure business, APA Group, global equipment suppliers including ITM Power, global energy suppliers and traders Idemitsu and Trafigura, and large renewable energy developers RES Australia and WalchaEnergy. Energy Estate is also working closely with Beyond Zero Emissions on their renewable energy industrial precincts which includes a focus on the Hunter and engaging with other regional stakeholders to ensure the project is developed utilising the skills and resources already available throughout the Hunter Valley, with the aim of bringing new domestic manufacturing opportunities to the Hunter.

“H2N’s ambition is to enable Australia’s first hydrogen valley in the NSW Hunter, transforming the region into a global superpower of renewable energy supply,” Energy Estate Principal, Vincent Dwyer said.

“A hydrogen economy and thriving supply chain in the Hunter has the potential to support local industry and workers into the jobs of the future and position the Hunter in the race to be one of Australia’s leading renewable energy exporters.”

The organisations are engaging with Energy Estate to conduct further due diligence and assess the scope and concept of the project.

The first stage of the project aims to produce green hydrogen and associated green feedstock for mining, vehicles and other industrial uses in the Upper Hunter.

The second phase of the project will assess the transportation of hydrogen through a dedicated hydrogen pipeline to Newcastle, supplying future local users and exporters, including producers of green ammonia for export, green feedstock into the chemical sector, green fuels and hydrogen turbines to provide green dispatchable energy solutions.

Energy Estate Principal Simon Currie said the supply chain was needed to ensure Australia, and the countries which already benefit from Australia’s abundant energy resources, could access competitive green hydrogen.

“The project will be critical in enabling new long-term, sustainable jobs and training and help underpin clean industrial precincts across the region,” Mr Currie said.

The H2N project is being developed under Energy Estate’s Hydrogen Growth platform, which focusses on developing green hydrogen opportunities throughout Australia and internationally. It builds on Energy Estate’s existing projects in the region, including the Walcha Energy Project, which proposes to connect to the Hunter through WalchaLink, and Idemitsu’s Muswellbrook hub which will repurpose the existing coal mine to a clean industrial hub incorporating pumped hydro, solar and battery storage, green hydrogen production and an industrial precinct.