Fortescue Future Industries’ (FFI), the wholly owned subsidiary of Australian-based iron ore giant Fortescue Metals Group, and Australia’s leading natural gas producer Woodside Energy have made a shortlist of four to partner with New Zealand electricity generation companies Meridian Energy and Contact Energy on their 600MW Southern Green Hydrogen project.
Meridian Energy and Contact Energy are looking to establish a large-scale green hydrogen production and export facility in the Southland region using renewable energy supplied by the existing 800MW Manapouri hydroelectric power station.
The largest hydroelectric generator in New Zealand, Manapouri currently supplies the Tiwai Point Aluminium Smelter, which consumes about 12% of New Zealand’s electricity. That supply agreement is set to expire in December 2024.
The exit of the smelter, majority-owned by Anglo-Australian mining giant Rio Tinto, will free up an estimated 4,800GWh of renewable energy per year and Meridian and Contact are looking to repurpose that renewable electricity into the emerging green hydrogen industry.
Meridian and Contact this week announced a shortlist of four potential development partners for the project, including FFI and Woodside.
Other companies included on the shortlist were Britian-based engineering and gas supply company BOC, and a consortium featuring Japanese commercial giant Mitsui and Eneos.
The Meridian and Contact joint venture said the shortlist was selected after a registration of interest process attracted more than 80 responses.
Image: Meridian
Meridian chief executive Neal Barclay said the shortlist is a major step forward in the commercialisation of Southland’s green hydrogen opportunity.
“These shortlisted counterparties all have strong hydrogen supply chain capability and a willingness to invest in the opportunity,” he said.
“Their involvement demonstrates that markets for green hydrogen are imminent, and that Aotearoa’s renewable energy resources have substantial potential to help decarbonise our domestic economy and increase export earnings.”
The joint venture said the shortlisted parties would now put together early stage business plans and cases for the large-scale green hydrogen production facility. Their plans are due to be submitted by mid-April.
The chosen partner or partners is expected to be announced by the middle of 2022 with development activities to commence in the second half of the year.
Contact chief executive officer Mike Fuge said Southern Green Hydrogen was one of the most advanced large-scale projects in the world in terms of its progress to market.
“It’s good to see things moving forward with the RFP and bring the project closer to fruition,” he said.
“There has been a massive amount of interest from leading engineering firms involved with green hydrogen.”
Image: FFI
The announcement is the latest green hydrogen project for FFI.
FFI founder and Fortescue chairman Andrew Forrest has previously announced ambitious plans to build one of the biggest renewable energy portfolios in the world, delivering more than 235 GW of renewable capacity. And in recent months, FFI has also announced plans with AGL to flip New South Wales’s coal generators in the Hunter Valley to green hydrogen, and to build the world’s biggest electrolyser manufacturing plant in Queensland.
Woodside also recently indicated its intent to expand into the production and supply of hydrogen, announcing plans to construct a $1 billion hydrogen and ammonia plant in Kwinana on Western Australia’s south coast. It has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Tasmanian government to develop a hydrogen and ammonia production plant in the island state.
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Hi David, you mention more than 438 GWh which as far as I can work out would be 600 MW * 365 days per year, and then *2 (for some reason). The correct number is ~5,250 GWh (600*24*365) as this hydropower is provided at almost 100% capacity factor
Thanks for picking that up Anon. Meridian reports the average annual output of Manapouri is 4,800GWh. Update has been made.