Australia’s Hydrogen First program has announced that it will inject US$511 million (approximately A$814 million) in financial support for the Murchison Green Hydrogen (MGH) project in Western Australia, the first project to receive funding under the program. The project is being developed by Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) and plans to build 1,500 megawatts (MW) of generating capacity. The project’s hydrogen and ammonia production facilities will operate completely off the grid, with the first phase relying on 1,200 megawatts (MW) of solar photovoltaic (PV) electricity, 1,700 MW of onshore wind energy, and 600 MW of battery storage systems every two hours to provide energy. The facilities will utilize renewable energy to produce green hydrogen and ammonia, in line with global goals to reduce carbon emissions.
Renewable ammonia production from the MGH project will be primarily for export, with target markets including Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Europe. As international demand for green hydrogen grows, Australia’s position in the global energy market will be further enhanced. Through this project, Australia will not only be able to drive its domestic energy transition, but will also play an important role in the global green energy sector, contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.