Australian Government Grant For Green Hydrogen Project

• ARENA has announced a grant for the East Kimberley Clean Energy and Hydrogen Project in Australia 
• It proposes to produce around 50,000 tons/annum renewable hydrogen with some 1 GW solar energy capacity 
• The target is to use this renewable hydrogen to generate 250,000 tons of green ammonia/year for local use and export purposes 

The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has approved a federal grant for a clean energy project to produce 50,000 tons/annum of renewable hydrogen through electrolysis for renewable ammonia, powered by approximately 1 GW solar energy generation. 

The grant of AUD 1,666,701 ($1,086,272) will support phase I of the feasibility study of East Kimberley Clean Energy and Hydrogen Project. It was reported to have 900 MW solar capacity when the project got support of the natives in 2023 (see Indigenous Communities Back Clean Energy Project). 

Feasibility study under phase I will commence immediately and complete within 5 months. If found feasible, the green hydrogen produced will be transported via an underground pipeline to Balanggarra Country in Wyndham. Here it will be combined with existing hydropower from the Ord Hydro Power Station to produce close to 250,000 tons/annum of renewable ammonia for export from Wyndham Port. 

Export destinations are envisioned to be key trade partners in Asia. Some of it will also be used domestically. 

ARENA points out, "The deployment would be one of the world's largest renewable hydrogen and ammonia production facilities with an estimated capital cost in the range of AUD 2.7-3.2 billion ($1.76-2.1 billion)." 

The beneficiary of the grant, Aboriginal Clean Energy Partnership Pty Ltd (ACEP), is a joint venture between native title representative holders Yawoorroong Miriuwung Gajerrong Yirrgeb Noong Dawang Corporation (MG Corporation), Balanggarra Ventures Ltd (Balanggarra), and Kimberley Land Council Aboriginal Corporation (KLC), and climate and nature investment and advisory firm Pollination. 

Each of these partners has an equal share in the partnership with all of them involved in the entire process of project development. 

ARENA will share with ACEP the best practice lessons learnt from the partnership model of involving Traditional Owners as shareholders in the development of clean energy projects. 

"This project will pave the way for First Nations-led renewable energy developments and ARENA will be working to ensure the lessons we learn from East Kimberley inform future projects," said ARENA CEO Darren Miller.