Kent has secured a new contract from Orica, strengthening its role in the delivery of the 50MW Hunter Valley Hydrogen Hub and confirming its position as a key partner in advancing large-scale hydrogen projects through to investment decision.
The expanded scope follows Kent’s successful delivery of front-end engineering design (FEED) and subsequent FID cost estimate development, which enabled Orica to progress the project with increased technical certainty and commercial confidence.
Under the new contract, Kent will now provide end-to-end engineering and procurement services through to start-up and handover, a critical milestone for one of Australia’s most advanced industrial hydrogen developments.
This appointment reflects Orica’s confidence in Kent’s ability to de-risk complex energy transition projects by integrating engineering maturity, cost certainty and procurement readiness at the point where projects either advance or stall.
Through the engagement, Kent will lead the final stages of engineering design, deliver the procurement of equipment and materials, and support the construction activities.
Carl Titchmarsh, Senior Vice President, APAC at Kent, said: “Projects like the Hunter Valley Hydrogen Hub demonstrate how the hydrogen sector is moving from planning to delivery.
“Having supported Orica from FEED through investment decision, we’re now focused on helping bring the project into execution.
“It’s a testament to the strength of our relationship with Orica and our ability to provide continuity across the full project lifecycle, combining engineering expertise with practical delivery to help turn ambitious decarbonisation goals into operational reality.”
The Hunter Valley Hydrogen Hub represents a significant test case for how hydrogen technology can be woven into established industrial operations rather than developed as a standalone venture.
By anchoring the project within Orica’s existing manufacturing footprint, the development sidesteps many of the infrastructure hurdles that have slowed other hydrogen initiatives across the country.
Industry observers have long pointed to the gap between hydrogen project announcements and projects that actually reach financial close.
The Hunter Valley development, having cleared FEED, cost estimation and now investment decision, sits among a small group of Australian projects that have moved past that threshold.
With Kent now overseeing engineering, procurement and construction support through to start-up and handover, the companies are positioning the project as a template for future collaborations between engineering firms and industrial hydrogen developers.
The continuity of a single delivery partner across FEED, FID and execution phases is being framed as a key factor in maintaining the technical and commercial discipline needed to keep such projects on schedule and on budget.
