Stanwell Corporation has recently entered into an option with Economic Development Queensland to acquire a 236ha site in the Gladstone State Development Area ( GSDA ) for its hydrogen plant .
In May 2021 the Federal Government announced the creation of five hydrogen hubs , one of which will be Port Kembla on the New South Wales ’ south coast . Gladstone is one of seven contenders for the remaining four positions .
Last year the Queensland Government announced the creation of a number of renewable energy zones , one of which will be centred in Central Queensland . In its 2021 budget the State Government committed a further $ 1.5 billion to develop the hydrogen industry and associated manufacturing .
Australian Renewable Energy Agency ( ARENA ) has also been active in Central Queensland , providing $ 2.9 million for two studies looking at the potential to use solar and wind-powered hydrogen to produce ammonia .
Sumitomo Australia and Australian Gas Networks Group have joined with the Gladstone Ports Corporation , CQUniversity , Australia and Gladstone Regional Council to establish a hydrogen eco-system in Gladstone .
Since 1965 Gladstone has developed into one of Australia ’ s prime heavy industry
locations . Energy production at the NRG Power station has been one of the substantial industrial undertakings as have been the RG Tanna and Wiggins Island Coal Terminals . Three LNG plants were built on Curtis Island in the first decade of the 21st century .
In addition , the city is the site for three plants involved in the production of aluminium , while others are involved in the making of chemicals and cement . Gladstone and adjoining GSDA to its northwest continue to require large quantities of power .
POWERLINK QUEENSLAND ’ S DISTRIBUTION NETWORK Queensland Government owned energy distributor Powerlink Queensland has a sophisticated high voltage electricity transmission network which runs from north of Cairns to the New South Wales border .
This network , which is linked to the National Electricity Market ( NEM ), includes 1500km of transmission lines and 139 sub-stations .
In coastal Central Queensland there are three Powerlink transmission lines running north-south together with an assortment of branch lines which provide power generators with excellent transmission access to Gladstone industrial complex and the NEM .
COASTAL CQ RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECTS The possible development of an export green hydrogen industry in Gladstone to transfer energy to Japan , Korea and other countries in addition to servicing Australia ’ s internal needs will require massive amounts of renewable energy . It will also contribute to efforts to diversify and improve the resilience of the regional economy .
It has been estimated that if all proposed green hydrogen projects in Australia were to take place , the area of renewable power generation would cover an area the size of Tasmania .
Coastal Central Queensland , a part of the Fitzroy Renewable Energy Zone , is well positioned to provide solar and wind power to drive the hydrolysis necessary to produce hydrogen . For example , the Rockhampton Region has approximately 300 plus days of sunshine a year to enable the production of solar power , while the wind blows strongly during the night hours in the mountains , hills and escarpments of Central Queensland to provide 24-hour renewable energy .
In addition , the Powerlink network has only a short distance of 200km at the most to link with Gladstone reducing
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT JOURNAL VOL 14 NO 2 2021 19