One of the world’s largest clean energy production facilities will find its home in WA, with Woodside announcing plans to establish a world-scale hydrogen and ammonia production facility in Kwinana.

The proposed H2Perth project aims to produce 1500 tonnes per day (tpd) of hydrogen for export in the form of ammonia and liquid hydrogen.

Woodside chief executive officer Meg O’Neill said the project would establish WA as a global hydrogen leader as it built on the State’s existing resources and capabilities.

“The land being leased from the State Government in the Kwinana and Rockingham areas is ideally located close to existing gas, power, water and port infrastructure, as well as a skilled local residential workforce,” Ms O’Neill said.

“These advantages will make a huge difference to cost of supply and schedule and help H2Perth deliver competitively priced hydrogen to customers.”

Woodside expects construction on the project to begin in 2024, subject to commercial and regulatory approvals and a final investment decision.

Premier Mark McGowan said the project would support the State’s movement toward a renewable energy future and net-zero targets while boosting manufacturing and creating thousands of local jobs within the construction, manufacturing and renewable energy sectors.

Hydrogen Industry Minister Alannah MacTiernan praised Woodside for investing in hydrogen within WA.

“The scale of this project will help secure the local manufacture of critical components and will underpin an expansion of renewable energy on the South West Interconnected System,” Ms MacTiernan said.

“We have more than 30 hydrogen project proposals on the table here in WA, and we are proud to have worked with Woodside to deliver one of the world’s first major clean hydrogen production facilities in WA.”

The announcement of the project came within days of a $10 million government-funded initial investment into the Hydrogen Fuelled Transport Program.

The program aims to provide financial support to a project that includes the procurement and operation of hydrogen or green ammonia fuelled transport, and the installation of one or more refuelling stations and forms part of the $61.5 million committed to drive renewable hydrogen development.

Ms MacTiernan said hydrogen vehicles presented a big zero-emissions transport option for WA.

“With the hydrogen transport industry still in an early phase, we are putting this investment on the table to accelerate hydrogen fuelled transport like trucks and busses and boost the rollout of hydrogen refuelling infrastructure,” she said.

“By testing market appetite with a flexible funding program, the Hydrogen Fuelled Transport Program is helping put WA ahead of the pack in clean fuel transport.

“The development of a hydrogen fuelled transport system supports the McGowan Government’s commitment to transition WA to net zero emissions by 2050 and the creation of new sustainable jobs in a growing industry.”

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