Tasmania's Green Hydrogen Hub Vision
The Tasmanian Green Hydrogen Hub Project at Bell Bay is the catalyst needed to kick start our state's hydrogen economy through the provision of open access infrastructure covering electricity transmission, water and ports.
Our competitive advantages make us an obvious location to play a central role in realising Australia's green hydrogen future.
Our plan will build on our globally recognised renewable energy credentials and established and planned infrastructure to be a leading producer and exporter of green hydrogen.
As part of this journey we are also focused on growing our own domestic market for locally-produced green hydrogen within and right around our state.
In January 2024, $70 million in funding from the Australian Government’s Regional Hydrogen Hubs program was locked-in for the Tasmanian Green Hydrogen Hub project meaning the project is now officially underway.
The Tasmanian Government is leading a consortium of partners including TasPorts, TasNetworks, TasWater, TasIrrigation and the Bell Bay Advanced Manufacturing Zone to deliver this project over the next four years.
Funding received through the hydrogen hub grant program will support both the investment in shared-use infrastructure such as port facilities, water supply and the electricity network, and the activation of a domestic market to ensure Tasmanian businesses can capitalise on this emerging technology.
The latest projections show the Tasmanian Green Hydrogen Hub project will also inject around $1.2 billion into the local economy over the duration of the project and support more than 700 local jobs.
- Read the Federal Governments initiatives to grow Australia's hydrogen industry
- Find out more about the Hydrogen Hub Grants Program
Image supplied by Woodside 2023, Phase 1 Bell Bay (1.7GW) Artist's impression of possible design for the Tasmanian Green Hydrogen Hub
A hydrogen hub is a precinct of industry and businesses producing and using hydrogen, including users from the energy, transport and industrial sectors.
Co-locating production and usage in one place is a cost-effective approach using existing infrastructure and economies of scale in developing a local hydrogen industry.
The Tasmanian Green Hydrogen Hub will provide major benefits to Tasmanian businesses and the economy, confirming our status as a renewable energy powerhouse, and cementing access to developing global supply chains.
The hub will provide common-user infrastructure including upgrades across port, water, and electricity transmission, as well as providing funding for appropriate project governance and market activation opportunities.
It will provide the necessary infrastructure for hydrogen proponents to establish green hydrogen and hydrogen derivatives production facilities at Bell Bay and enable the expansion of these facilities over time.
The Tasmanian Green Hydrogen Hub (PDF 738.0 KB) first stage will include a hydrogen production plant of up to 300MW located within the Bell Bay Advanced Manufacturing Zone.
It will be central to providing local job and training opportunities. The green hydrogen produced on site will be used to transition advanced manufacturing, heavy transport and energy intensive industries to renewable energy, as well as for export.
Tasmanian hydrogen projects are also part of the trials for the development of a new Australian Government hydrogen certification scheme. This will help to ensure that the design of this scheme appropriately recognises our green credentials.
Developing a hydrogen industry in Tasmania will stimulate economic growth and create jobs for Tasmanians. This includes both direct and indirect benefits from the significant investment in renewable energy and supporting infrastructure and the expansion of existing advanced manufacturing activity.
The project will generate around 740 jobs, including engineering, project management other various technical roles, while hub construction will provide work for local skilled trades like concreters, plumbers, fitters and electricians.
Adding hydrogen to Tasmania's energy mix will further increase the system's resilience and reliability. Increased demand for hydrogen production will stimulate the demand for further renewable energy.
Use of hydrogen in existing emissions intensive industries including transport, agriculture/aquaculture and manufacturing has the potential to further reduce Tasmania's carbon footprint and greenhouse gas emissions while allowing them to remain competitive as global markets decarbonise.
Development of a green hydrogen hub in Tasmania will pave the way for growth of a scale industry to supply expanding domestic and export markets.
The National Hydrogen Strategy outlines that there is strong global demand for green hydrogen and the need to capture this demand through development of export markets. A Tasmanian Green Hydrogen Hub is an ideal way to tap into this growing market and open international trade channels to the rest of Australia.
