Led by Energy Estate, the consortium including Idemitsu Kosan subsidiary, Idemistu Australia, and Queensland Government owned CS Energy will progress a study on the feasibility of generating and exporting green ammonia from the Port of Abbot Point near Bowen.

Initiated in 2020, HyNQ aims to develop a ‘global-scale’ green ammonia facility, utilising natural resources in the Australian state, as well as using existing infrastructure with a view to export to countries such as Japan and South Korea.

Looking to complete pre-front-end engineering design (FEED) activities in the third quarter of 2023, the consortium if successful, a final investment decision (FID) is expected in late 2024 or early 2025, with plans to produce hydrogen and ammonia from 2027/2028.

Vincent Dwyer, co-founder of Energy Estate, said, “Bringing together a group of highly respected energy companies, each focused on both the domestic opportunities for Queensland and key export markets of Japan and Korea will help accelerate the potential of HyNQ, a project leaning-in to the opportunity for the export of ‘sunshine gas’.”

“The study is a critical step to supply low-carbon energy solutions and forms part of the HyNQ project to build infrastructure to support green industries and deliver a pathway for green hydrogen and ammonia production,” said Steve Kovac, CEO of Idemitsu Australia.

Kovac added, “This is another major opportunity for North Queensland as we continue to build low-carbon and decarbonisation businesses and pave the way for Australia’s energy transition.”

Backing the plans, Mick de Brenni, Queensland Energy, Renewables and Hydrogen Minister said that Queensland’s clean energy transformation was the state’s greatest jobs opportunity in a generation.

He said, “This is another vote of confidence from our trading partners following the release of our first-of-its-kind in Australia report highlighting Queensland’s capacity to produce and export renewable hydrogen. From our hydrogen superhighway and hydrogen training facilities to electrolyser manufacturing and export capabilities, we’re setting Queensland’s economy up to power the world’s future.”