Gibson Island study to build on Queensland’s hydrogen capabilities

Queensland’s role as a global leader in the manufacture of renewable hydrogen has taken another big step forward with manufacturer Incitec Pivot reaching an agreement with Fortescue Future Industries to study the feasibility of green ammonia production.

The feasibility study will assess whether industrial-scale manufacturing of green ammonia at Gibson Island is technically and commercially feasible on an existing brownfield site.

It will investigate building a new water electrolysis facility on the site to produce around 50,000 tonnes of renewable hydrogen per year, which would then be converted into green ammonia for Australian and export markets.

If the feasibility study stacks up, it will allow the establishment of a large-scale green ammonia export facility at lower cost and in a shorter timeframe than many other locations around the world.

The two companies are perfectly suited to working together on the study. Incitec Pivot completed an $80 million capital upgrade of the Gibson Island plant in early 2020. The plant currently produces more than 300,000 tonnes of ammonia each year.

Fortescue Future Industries is a global green energy and product company committed to producing zero-emission green hydrogen from 100% renewable sources. The company invests in zero-emission resources to produce renewable energy at a scale equal to the oil and gas super majors.

“The combination of FFI’s drive to develop a globally competitive green hydrogen industry, and our leadership and technical skills in ammonia production, will play an important role in developing Australia’s capability in this growing international market.” - Incitec CEO Jeanne Johns

The agreement is one of several recent renewable-related announcements for Queensland, as the state positions itself become a renewable hydrogen superpower. This emerging industry has the potential to have enormous economic benefits for the state, creating and sustaining jobs long into the future.

Preliminary results from the feasibility study are expected to be available at the end of the year.