Gladstone and Queensland are solidifying their positions as global leaders in clean economy manufacturing — particularly in hydrogen and renewable energy — with the inauguration of a significant hydrogen industry manufacturing project and the green light for the next stage to begin.
The Queensland government convened a cabinet meeting at Fortescue’s Gladstone Electrolyser Facility to mark its official opening.
This facility is the first in Australia to manufacture hydrogen electrolysers at a commercial scale and is among the largest globally.
Located on the 100-hectare site of the Aldoga Industrial Estate in the Gladstone State Development Area, the facility is the initial phase of a broader Green Energy Manufacturing Centre being developed by Fortescue.
It boasts an initial production capacity of over two gigawatts per annum, a substantial increase in current global production.
At full capacity, the facility will produce over 200,000 tonnes of green hydrogen each year.
QLD Minister for Regional Development and Manufacturing and Member for Gladstone, Glenn Butcher, expressed pride in Gladstone’s role in developing new industries and securing a long-term water supply contract for the facility.
“Gladstone is at the forefront of growing new industries to build on our sovereign industrial capability.
“New industries like this provide opportunities for local manufacturers to become part of the domestic supply chain and also export their products to the world,” said Butcher.
The next phase, known as PEM50, has received development approval from Queensland’s Coordinator-General, allowing construction to commence.
PEM50, a 50MW green hydrogen production facility, will utilise locally made Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) electrolysers to produce green hydrogen for both local use and export markets.
It will be Fortescue’s first commercial-scale green hydrogen facility.
Together, these two projects by Fortescue are expected to create 240 jobs during construction and sustain 93 ongoing local operational jobs.
As the energy precinct continues to grow, it is estimated that over 300 indirect local jobs will also be supported.
The Queensland government has shown strong support for the project, with QLD Premier Miles emphasising the creation of new clean economy manufacturing jobs in Gladstone.
He highlighted that Queensland is leading the nation in investment in renewable energy, which is translating into significant manufacturing jobs in the region.
QLD Minister for Industry and Science, the Hon. Ed Husic, praised the project as a step towards a future made in Australia, facilitating the country’s transition to net zero emissions while creating jobs.
Deputy Premier Cameron Dick emphasised the long-term benefits of the facility for the region, contrasting it with the opposition’s denial of climate change.
“This world-class industrial facility will support good, secure manufacturing jobs in Central Queensland for generations to come,” said Dick.
State Development Minister Grace Grace emphasised the government’s support for the project, citing strategies like the Queensland New-Industry Development Strategy and the Queensland Hydrogen Industry Development Strategy that have contributed to attracting investments like Fortescue’s.
“It’s projects like this that bring our visionary strategies like the Queensland New-Industry Development Strategy, the Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan, and the Queensland Hydrogen Industry Development Strategy to life.”
QLD Energy Minister Mick de Brenni highlighted the project’s role in the Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan, bringing new industries to the state and creating opportunities for local manufacturing and international exports.
Fortescue Energy CEO Mark Hutchinson emphasised the significance of the facility in positioning Gladstone as a leading Australian manufacturer of green energy technology — noting its potential to meet the growing global demand for green hydrogen production.
The inauguration of the Fortescue Hydrogen Project in Gladstone marks a significant step forward in Queensland’s and Australia’s efforts to become global leaders in clean economy manufacturing — particularly in the crucial field of hydrogen production.
