Today the first sod has been turned on one of Australia’s largest renewable hydrogen projects, starting the energy transition for Albury-Wodonga’s gas network and providing a new source of renewable energy for regional industry, homes and businesses.
11 October 2024
Large-scale hydrogen project advances to major milestone
Today the first sod has been turned on one of Australia’s largest renewable hydrogen projects, starting the energy transition for Albury-Wodonga’s gas network and providing a new source of renewable energy for regional industry, homes and businesses.
Federal Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Mr Josh Wilson MP, joined project leader Australian Gas Infrastructure Group (AGIG), its partners and community leaders to mark the beginning of construction of the $65 million Hydrogen Park Murray Valley project.
A 10-megawatt LONGi Hydrogen electrolyser will form the centrepiece of the project, enabling Hydrogen Park Murray Valley to generate around 500 tonnes of renewable hydrogen and eliminate upwards of 3,000 tonnes of emissions each year.
The renewable hydrogen from the facility will be blended into the local network at up to 10% by volume to commercial and industrial gas users, and around 40,000 Albury-Wodonga homes and businesses.
Acting AGIG Chief Executive Officer, Cathryn McArthur said the start of construction is a positive signal about the potential for renewable gases in the energy transition.
“This is a project of significant scale, which brings us one step closer to establishing a renewable gas industry in Australia and responds to the needs of customers for more renewable generation to support Australia’s energy transition.
“AGIG is committed to reducing emissions and we believe that renewable gases can play a critical role through the transition - this will be our third hydrogen project, following the success of our renewable Hydrogen Park facilities in South Australia and in Gladstone.
“We have been encouraged by the interest from community and industry in the Murray Valley project, which includes the recent signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with North-East Water to explore the potential to use recycled water from its wastewater treatment plant as well as supplying it with surplus oxygen from the hydrogen production process.
“Importantly this project is demonstrating the potential for industry to have greater flexibility in how they reduce their emissions, either by using blended gas delivered through the network or by purchasing renewable gas through a certificate scheme.”
Mars Petcare has become the first business in Australia to take this path to reduce its carbon footprint, securing all Renewable Gas Guarantee of Origin certificates allocated to production at Hydrogen Park Murray Valley for its important food manufacturing business under GreenPower’s Renewable Gas Certification scheme.
Hydrogen Park Murray Valley is financially supported by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency, the Victorian Government and the Clean Energy Finance Corporation.
“We thank the Australian and Victorian Governments for their support of this project, along with our project partners and the Albury-Wodonga community for welcoming this important facility.”
Supporting Quotes
Federal Member for Indi, Helen Haines
“Wodonga has a very strong and proud history of manufacturing and industry, and this is an exciting project for the innovation and future development of green hydrogen, not only for our region but for our nation.”
Mars Petcare General Manager, Craig Sargeant
“Mars Petcare Australia is proud to play a leadership role in helping to create a renewable energy hub in north-east Victoria and a key part of this is working together with AGIG to purchase all of the Renewable Gas Guarantee of Origin certificates at Hydrogen Park Murray Valley. This is all part of our pathway to net zero carbon emissions at the Mars Petcare Wodonga site.”
North East Water Managing Director, Jo Murdoch
“By collaborating with AGIG on this project, we’re creating circular economy synergies between our upgraded wastewater treatment plant and the new hydrogen facility, with the potential to supply biogas, enriched oxygen, and recycled water for a more sustainable future.”
Background
AGIG owns, operates and invests in infrastructure which delivers gas to more than two million homes and businesses. It powers generators, mines, manufacturers and household appliances and the combined network makes AGIG one of the largest gas infrastructure businesses in Australia.
AGIG manages over 35,000km of world-class distribution networks, more than 4,300km of transmission pipelines and 60 petajoules of storage capacity, valued at a combined $10 billion. We employ approximately 500 people with more than 1,600 contractors working on our business.
AGIG is leading the Australian renewable hydrogen industry, with the establishment of Hydrogen Park SA, the largest operational electrolyser in Australia, the construction of Hydrogen Park Murray Valley and several other renewable hydrogen and biomethane projects in development.
AGIG has a low carbon vision to deliver 100% renewable gas by no later than 2050, with at least 10% renewable gas blends delivered to homes and businesses though our distribution networks by 2030.
For Further Information Contact
Rachel Cameron, Head of Corporate Affairs
M +61 425 199 184
