Japan’s largest oil company, ENEOS, has started green hydrogen production at its Bulwer Island demonstration plant in Brisbane.
Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development Steven Miles said it was an exciting step towards Queensland becoming a world leader in renewable energy.
“ENEOS choosing Queensland for this project strengthens our position as a leading destination for investment in green hydrogen,” Mr Miles said.
“Working with international partners will play a critical role in Queensland’s journey as we develop a world-class, sustainable and competitive hydrogen industry.
“The Bulwer Island facility will have capacity to produce up to 20 kilograms of green hydrogen a day, creating 30 new specialist jobs in the process.”
ENEOS will produce the green hydrogen using its patented electrolysis technology (Direct MCH®), powered from renewable energy generated by an onsite 250-kilowatt solar system.
The hydrogen will be produced in the form of methylcyclohexane (MCH), so it can be stored and transported as a liquid before being refined back to hydrogen in Japan.
It is the first project supported by the Japanese Government’s $24 billion Green Innovation Fund, which aims to help Japan achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.
The company is investigating other sites in Queensland for future stages of its development.
Minister for Energy, Renewables and Hydrogen Mick de Brenni said Queensland has all the ingredients needed to become a global hydrogen superpower.
“This project by ENEOS is further proof of the opportunity that green hydrogen presents for sectors such as road transport, aviation, ammonia for fertiliser and explosives as well as to create industrial heat and power generation for mining and steel production.”
ENEOS is also building a 204-megawatt solar farm at Edenvale in the Western Downs, supporting 400 jobs in regional Queensland during construction.
