Hydrogen power plant gets federal approval

This week the government of South Australia received a key approval for its big play for leadership in the world of green hydrogen – the $500 million Hydrogen Jobs Plan.

The plan for 250MWe of electrolysers, 200MW of hydrogen power generation and a 100t renewable hydrogen storage facility was granted approval under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act).

This follows the project securing development approval in July this year which involved an independent and comprehensive assessment by both State and Commonwealth regulatory agencies.

The hydrogen power plant is a world first and the state hopes it will emulate the success of the Tesla big battery which opened in 2017 with 129 MWh of storage, sparking a world wide move to battery energy storage.

In October 2023, ATCO and global gas giant BOC Linde were selected to construct the hydrogen power station, beating out 28 other bids.

According to the state government, the latest approval milestones signify a significant step forward for the project, reinforcing the government’s commitment to sustainability while fostering renewable energy growth and job creation.

The Chief Executive of the Office of Hydrogen Power SA Sam Crafter said: “This approval is a testament to our commitment to balance renewable energy development with conservation.

“We’re proud to take a responsible approach that not only drives employment opportunities and innovation in Whyalla but also safeguards the unique biodiversity in the region.”

This week the Government of South Australia’s world-leading Hydrogen Jobs Plan located near Whyalla has been granted approval under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act).

This follows the project securing development approval in July this year which involved an independent and comprehensive assessment by both State and Commonwealth regulatory agencies.

These approval milestones signify a significant step forward for the project, reinforcing the Government of South Australia’s commitment to sustainability and environmental protection while fostering renewable energy growth and job creation.

The 200MW Whyalla hydrogen power plant will be a new source of flexible power, providing additional grid stability for homes and businesses around the state by utilising excess renewable energy generated from large-scale wind and solar farms to provide a consistent output of supply.

The Whyalla renewable hydrogen power plant facility is separate to the Port Bonython Hydrogen Hub, which is located near Stony Point.

In October 2023, ATCO and global gas giant BOC Linde were selected to construct the hydrogen power station, beating out 28 other bids.

Further reading:
ATCO and BOC Linde to build world first hydrogen power station
A much, much bigger big battery for SA

Picture: ALPSA