The Gas Appliance Manufacturers Association of Australia has hailed the beginning of construction on the $65.46 million Hydrogen Park Murray Valley near Wodonga.
Led by the Australian Gas Infrastructure Group in partnership with Longi Hydrogen, Energy Australia, Powernet, Valmec, and GPA Engineering, the project is supported by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency and the Victorian Department of Energy, Environment, and Climate Change.
“This project shows how industry and government can work together to make renewable hydrogen on an industrial scale a reality by the end of this decade,” said GAMAA President Ross Jamieson.
Located outside Wodonga, the Hydrogen Park will feature a 10-megawatt LONGi Hydrogen electrolyser capable of producing 500 tonnes of renewable hydrogen annually, offsetting approximately 3,000 tonnes of carbon emissions each year.
The renewable hydrogen will be blended with natural gas and distributed through the existing gas network, supplying up to 10 per cent renewable gas to 40,000 homes and businesses in the Albury-Wodonga region.
Jamieson emphasised the importance of maintaining a hydrogen-ready gas network to support decarbonisation efforts.
“The Murray Valley project underlines the importance of maintaining a viable hydrogen-ready distributed gas network which, together with new high-efficiency gas appliances will significantly decarbonise gas supply to households and small businesses,” he said.
GAMAA is calling for stronger government collaboration to create policy frameworks that support the shift to fully renewable gas networks and promote the development of Australian-made, high-efficiency renewable gas appliances.
“This is an important first step in the transition to 100% renewable gas. Governments at all levels must work together to ensure the policy settings support a transition to 100% renewable gas capable networks and Australian-made, high efficiency 100% renewable gas appliances, so we have the market, skills and jobs to keep delivering choice to consumers,” Jamieson noted.
“These standards will allow Australian-made renewable gas appliances to enter the market with full safety certification, giving consumers confidence in their performance,” Jamieson said.
Currently, over 60 per cent of gas appliances sold in Australia are locally designed and manufactured to suit domestic conditions, with GAMAA members employing around 4,000 workers, many in regional areas.