Australian listed public energy company Origin Energy has signed a deal with the Townsville port for the potential expansion of its green hydrogen project in Queensland, with export targeted to commence from the mid-2020s.

The deal will also look into the development of a liquefaction facility, new berth and associated infrastructure, Origin said.

Origin is working with Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd (KHI) to develop a 300 MW export project that will produce 36,500 tonnes of green liquid hydrogen each year from renewable energy and sustainable water.

It said the three parties will focus on the work required for the semi-commercial scale liquid hydrogen carrier currently being developed by KHI, future project expansion opportunities and the potential to share common infrastructure with other Townsville port users.

Eliza Danby of Pinsent Masons, the law firm behind Out-Law, said: “The signing of the deal is a significant further step in Kawasaki’s export project, and has the potential to put Townsville on the map as the centre for hydrogen export in the Asia Pacific region.”

Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said planned upgrades to the port would help to build the state’s hydrogen industry. The Queensland government has allocated AU$10 million over the next four years to develop the renewable hydrogen industry in its 2020-2021 budget.

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