Publicly-owned Powerlink and Economic Development Queensland (EDQ) have signed an agreement with Fortescue Future Industries (FFI) to connect sites at Gibson Island and Aldoga, near Gladstone, for Powerlink’s transmission network.
The deal is to allow renewable electricity to power proposed hydrogen projects.
Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Steven Miles said the parties concerned would work together to build new transmission connections that would power FFI’s Queensland developments.
“FFI is seeking to build a facility at Gibson Island to produce around 50,000 tonnes of renewable hydrogen per year,” Mr Miles said.
“Connection to the transmission network is vital to allow green energy to power this facility,” he said.
“Queensland’s constantly growing fleet of renewable power stations will provide the energy to produce green hydrogen ready for export to overseas markets like Japan and South Korea.”
Mr Miles said by working with Powerlink, FFI would receive a streamlined service across its Queensland connection developments, which could be up and running as soon as 2023.
He said Powerlink would construct a new 275kV switchyard at its existing Murarrie Substation and two 275kV feeders to Gibson Island.
Treasurer and Minister for Trade and Investment, Cameron Dick said as more companies looked to decarbonise, more jobs would be created in the State.
“Powerlink will play an integral role in decarbonising our economy,” Mr Dick said.
“This agreement will help establish Queensland as one of the world’s leading green energy hubs for hydrogen production and create jobs in more energy-intensive industries supported by that renewable power,” he said.
