Countrywide Hydrogen to be Tasmania’s first major hydrogen producer

ReNu Energy subsidiary Countrywide Hydrogen will become “Tasmania’s first major green hydrogen producer”, the state government announced on Monday, after an $8 million funding agreement.

In a joint statement with energy minister Nick Duigan, Premier Jeremy Rockliff said that Countrywide “will produce hydrogen at multiple locations around the state,” and supply it to various users. 

Countrywide will receive funding on a per-kilogram basis of green hydrogen sold to end-users under the Green Hydrogen Price Reduction Scheme, said Duigan. This will cover “the gap between the cost to produce the green hydrogen and what end-users are able to pay.”

“Initially the project will target the heavy transport sector as well as potential industrial applications with all hydrogen to be sold within the local Tasmanian market,” said Rockliff in a statement on Monday.

“It will be part of the next great evolution of our economy, capitalising on our great tradition of zero-emissions energy production to create the renewables jobs of the future.”

In a statement in July last year, Countrywide announced suppliers for hydrogen projects in the state, powered by renewable energy, and said projects were on track for first hydrogen supply by mid-2025.

Its website currently cites projects at Devonport, Launceston and Brighton in Tasmania.

Energy minister Nick Duigan said: “All up this agreement will initially see more than $60 million invested in our state over the next three years as part of the Countrywide Project, money that will flow into regional and local economies and communities.

“The first phase of Countrywide’s plan is to construct a hydrogen production and heavy vehicle refuelling facility at the industrial hub in Brighton, which will produce up to 800 tonnes per annum of green hydrogen. 

Picture: credit Countrywide

Further reading

Countrywide Hydrogen selects contractors for Tasmanian projects

Federal government announces $70 million for Bell Bay through Regional Hydrogen Hubs program

ReNu Energy and Walkinshaw partner for hydrogen powered trucks