Fortescue gets approval for hydrogen facility in Queensland

Australian renewable energy company Fortescue Future Industries (FFI) has scored planning approval to build hydrogen equipment manufacturing facilities in Queensland.

Queensland’s goverment representatives said the approval would allow FFI to progress plans for constructing the facility in the Gladstone State Development Area (SDA).

So, Fortescue now has the planning approval to progress the first stage of its Global Green Energy Manufacturing Centre (GEM). The first stage will cost $114 million. The facility will be located at Aldoga, Gladstone.

The government expects the facility to, above all, boost Queensland’s position as a leader in green hydrogen.

Moreover, this will be the first facility in Australia able to make the multi-gigawatt-scale electrolysers used worldwide in hydrogen production.

“With the initial capacity to manufacture up to two gigawatts of electrolysers annually, it will be the largest electrolyser factory in the world when it comes online in 2023. The facility will be constructed within a four-hectare site with an electrolyser assembly building to cover approximately 12,900 square metres,” said deputy premier Steven Miles.

Minister for trade Cameron Dick said renewable energy is a key element of the Palaszczuk government’s economic recovery plan. Thus, this development is supporting the plan.

“We’re developing a renewable hydrogen industry that’s maintaining Queensland’s dominance as a global energy superpower,” he also pointed out.

FFI chairman Andrew Forrest said this is going to be at the center of Queensland’s green energy revolution.

“This project will not only be a game-changer for green manufacturing in regional Queensland; it will also provide a major boost for the local economy and indelibly put Queensland as an epicentre of the coming green industry revolution.”

FFI CEO Julie Shuttleworth commented the facility will be a major hub in Queensland’s growing hydrogen industry.

Finally, Fortescue will begin the construction of the first stage in February 2022.