Latrobe City Council has welcomed confirmation that the hydrogen industry in the Latrobe Valley is advancing, and bringing new opportunities for the City and broader Gippsland.
Council welcomed the announcement of the Gippsland Hydrogen Technology Cluster recently as part of a national cluster.
Council also welcomed news that hydrogen production has started in Latrobe City, as part of the Japan-Australia Hydrogen Energy Supply Chain (HESC) project.
Council continues to advocate at state and federal levels for alternative uses of Latrobe Valley brown coal to coal-fired electricity generation, and this includes hydrogen.
Hydrogen projects could help diversify the City’s economy as government policy dictates a move away from coal-fired electricity production.
“Council works with all levels of industry and government to maximise environmental and economic opportunities for Latrobe City, and the hydrogen industry is a prime example of this work paying off,” Latrobe City Council Mayor, Cr Sharon Gibson said.
“As Australia moves away from coal-powered electricity generation over coming decades, Council is pleased to be working with industry to develop alternative uses of Latrobe Valley coal and to create new employment that will retain – and attract – skilled workers and industry in our community.”
Council is a member of the Gippsland Hydrogen Technology Cluster and will be involved in the development of a strategy for the cluster as it develops.
Led by National Energy Resources Australia, the national cluster would operate as a virtual network to establish a global identity, and a recognised brand for Australian hydrogen technology and expertise.
It will also aid the development of the hydrogen supply chain, reduce overlaps and identify gaps in the development, deployment, and commercialisation of new hydrogen focused technologies.
The HESC project will see hydrogen from the Latrobe Valley transported to the Port of Hastings for export to Japan. The project is now at pilot stage.
It is intended that if the project expands to commercialisation stage, carbon dioxide produced as a by-product of the process may be captured and stored underground.
A demonstration plant has been under construction in the Latrobe Valley since November 2019 and began producing hydrogen on 23 January 2021.
“Council has supported the HESC project from its inception. Council representatives have visited the Kobe port where the hydrogen ship will be unloading the hydrogen and also attended the launch of the project at the Port of Hastings,” Cr Gibson said.