ATCO's $53m green hydrogen plan gets council nod

ATCO Australia’s proposed $53 million green hydrogen plant in the state’s Mid-West is another step closer to fruition this week after the local council backed its approval.

The application, lodged by consultancy GHD, proposes the construction of a hydrogen processing plant at the existing 2,000 hectare Warradarge Wind Farm site.

The existing 180MW wind farm would power the 10MW hydrogen electrolyser with renewable energy to produce up to 4.3 tonnes of green hydrogen daily.

That is intended to be blended into the state's main gas pipeline.

The hydrogen produced at the site, which is being dubbed the Clean Energy Innovation Park, would then be stored in specialised storage units before being transported via truck to gas network injection points.

The Shire of Coorow has recommended the Regional Joint Development Assessment Panel approve the proposal when it meets next week.

The project received a $28.7 million grant from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency in May, a federal government agency aimed at increasing supply and competitiveness of renewable energy sources.

A feasibility study into the project was also supported by the state government’s Renewable Hydrogen Fund.

The company is expected to make a final investment decision in February 2022.