PERTH (miningweekly.com) – An energy consortium, consisting of Queensland government-owned energy company CS Energy, Idemitsu Australia, and Energy Estate, will jointly study the feasibility of generating and exporting green ammonia from the Port of Abbot Point near Bowen.

The North Queensland Clean Energy (HyNQ) project was initiated by Energy Estate in 2020, and created to develop a global-scale green ammonia facility utilising the strong natural resources of North Queensland.

The project looks to harness the benefits of existing infrastructure, while drawing on the experienced workforce and supply chain of North Queensland.

The joint study will review the technical, environmental and commercial feasibility of manufacturing and exporting 500 000 t/y of green ammonia, and the consortium will fund the ongoing pre-front-end engineering and design (FEED) activities. The HyNQ project aims to complete pre-FEED activities in the second half of 2023, with the hydrogen and ammonia production to start in 2027/28.

Queensland Energy, Renewables and Hydrogen Minister Mick de Brenni said that Queensland’s clean energy transformation was the state’s greatest jobs opportunity in a generation.

“Our Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan provides the key ingredients to becoming a global hydrogen superpower and sets us up to play a leading role in helping the world achieve its decarbonisation ambitions” De Brenni said.

“This is another vote of confidence from our trading partners following the release of our first-of-its-kind in Australia report highlighting Queensland’s capacity to produce and export renewable hydrogen.

“From our hydrogen superhighway and hydrogen training facilities to electrolyser manufacturing and export capabilities, we’re setting Queensland’s economy up to power the world’s future,” he said.

Idemitsu Australia CEO Steve Kovac said the study was a critical step to supply low-carbon energy solutions and forms part of the HyNQ project to build infrastructure to support green industries and deliver a pathway for green hydrogen and ammonia production.

“This is another major opportunity for North Queensland as we continue to build low-carbon and decarbonisation businesses and pave the way for Australia’s energy transition.

“We are excited to partner with Energy Estate and other consortium members to examine the feasibility of manufacturing and exporting green hydrogen and ammonia.”