The WA Government has presented Infinite Green Energy (IGE) with a $5 million grant to fund the MEG HP1 Green Hydrogen Project in Northam, Western Australia.
Minister for Hydrogen Industry Hon. Bill Johnston said: “The $5 million, from the Investment Attraction Fund, will help Infinite Green Energy establish Western Australia’s first renewable green hydrogen production system.
“The construction, commissioning and ongoing maintenance of the MEG HP1 Hydrogen project is expected to create over 100 jobs and help decarbonise the state’s economy.”
This end-to-end green hydrogen system will produce, distribute and supply renewable hydrogen to the domestic heavy transport sector through Hydrogen Refuelling Stations (HRS).
The green hydrogen, produced in partnership with Samsung Construction & Trading Corporation and Doral Energy Group, will be a cost-competitive and eco-friendly alternative to other transportation fuels.
Utilising electricity generated by the Northam Solar PV Farm and South West Interconnected System (SWIS), the system is projected to produce up to four tonnes of green hydrogen per day.
IGE plans to use part of the WA Government’s Investment Attraction Fund (IAF) to increase the electricity generated from the existing 11MW solar farm to 24 MW as part of the project’s development.
The IAF has committed $148.4 million towards 40 projects to attract new state investments and create local jobs.
Infinite Green Energy (IGE) CEO Stephen Gould said: “This grant will support the development and construction of the MEG HP1 Hydrogen Project and will help IGE to make a meaningful contribution to the transition to a net zero economy in WA.”
The funds will contribute to the development of WA’s first network of hydrogen refuelling stations in Northam, Perth Airport and other regional areas.
The first phase of the Northam project is anticipated to cost $110 million.
IGE expects a Final Investment Decision (FID) for the MEG HP1 Project before the end of 2023 and the first production of hydrogen in early 2025.