Infinite Green’s $120m Northam project in limbo

A development assessment panel was unable to decide on a $120 million Northam energy plant over concerns on risks and hazards from hydrogen production.

The Regional Joint Development Assessment Panel today voted to defer Infinite Green Energy’s proposal to build a hydrogen plant and expanded solar farm on Northam-York Road, Muluckine.

In a meeting that lasted about two hours, the panel unanimously decided to push back the application for up to 90 days for the applicant to respond to some of its key questions.

JDAP deputy presiding member Kanella Hope said there wasn’t an adequate plan to accommodate the safety and hazard risks.

“It sounds like things are close, but that material just hasn’t been presented to the panel or documented to answer some of the key questions the panel has asked,” she said at the meeting.

The JDAP report said the proposed Hydrogen production facility might be classified as a Major Hazard Facility under the Dangerous Goods Safety Act.

The applicant has up to 90 days to give more details on classification and licence requirements under Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety, limitations on fuel, and gather responses from state government bodies.

In the JDAP report, the applicant said the proposal was referred to DMIRS with no response.

The Shire of Northam had recommended the JDAP approve the development but with conditions, including excluding the solar farm from the approval.

The proposed hydrogen plant is expected to produce about four tonnes of gaseous hydrogen a day for the light and heavy vehicle transport sector, the development application said.

Another concern raised at the meeting was whether Infinite Green Energy would be using more energy than producing it.

Infinite Green Energy co-founder and chief executive Stephen Gauld said WA had one of the greenest grids in the country.