Townsville gains hydrogen cluster status

Townsville will join Central Queensland, Toowoomba and Brisbane to host the fourth hydrogen technology cluster in Queensland. The Federal Government has formally named the North Queensland Hydrogen Consortium, led by Townsville Enterprise, as a new hydrogen cluster along with two sites in Western Australia. The clusters operate under the Hydrogen Technology Cluster Australia project, an initiative of independent National Energy Resources Australia (NERA), which is funded by the Australian Government’s Industry Growth Centres. Townsville Enterprise chief executive officer Claudia Brumme-Smith. Townsville Enterprise chief executive officer Claudia Brumme-Smith said the announcement was a positive step in being recognised across Australia and the world as an integral contributor to the swiftly developing hydrogen economy."As a designated NERA hydrogen cluster, the purpose of NQH2 is to encourage and facilitate the development of the hydrogen industry in North Queensland. Townsville Enterprise is leading the NQH2 consortium together with our foundation members," she said."North Queensland is an emerging renewable hydrogen industry and achieving cluster status opens up more opportunities to deliver on our ambition to become the world’s most competitive exporter of green hydrogen. "With our region now part of a national network of like-minded clusters, we look forward to realising our potential to build upon the unique advantages that geographically come with being in our part of Northern Australia." Townsville Mayor Jenny Hill said the designation as a hydrogen cluster was recognition of the city’s work to position itself as an ideal location for renewable energy manufacturing and in particular the aspiration to become a future leader in hydrogen production and export in Australia. “I commend the work of the NQH2 Consortium in demonstrating to the Australian Government that Townsville has what is needed to become a national and international leader in hydrogen production and export,” Cr Hill said. “Green hydrogen will be an energy of the future and Townsville and North Queensland is uniquely placed to be able to supply green hydrogen to both domestic and export markets. “We have substantial suitable land and renewable energy capacity, undersubscribed use of the North Queensland Gas Pipeline and renewable energy projects and the deep-water Port of Townsville through which hydrogen can be exported. “We already have a number of proponents looking to develop hydrogen production facilities in the city including Ark Energy, Origin Energy and Edify Energy. “These developments will provide an economic boon for the city, especially secure jobs not only through construction of the production facilities but also once operational. “Now that it has named the NQH2 Consortium as a hydrogen cluster, I hope the Australian Government will back this developing industry with the financial and other support it needs to achieve its full potential.” The North Queensland Hydrogen Consortium is led by Townsville Enterprise and guided by a steering committee. Foundation partners on the steering committee include Townsville City Council, Port of Townsville, ARK Energy, Origin Energy, Edify, Copperstring 2.0, Rockfield, Ricochet and Lixia.

Townsville gains hydrogen cluster status

Industry Queensland

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