Woodside unveils plans for Kwinana hydrogen, ammonia plant

Woodside Petroleum Ltd., Perth, plans to establish a world-scale hydrogen and ammonia production plant at a site in Kwinana, just south of Perth, in Western Australia.

The project, named H2Perth, has the support of the Western Australian Government. It will be developed on 130 hectares of vacant industrial land to be leased from the state government in the Kwinana Strategic Industrial Area and Rockingham Industry Zone. The land is close to existing gas, power, water, and port infrastructure, as well as a skilled resident workforce, the company said.

Full production potential of the phased development is up to 1,500 tonnes/day of hydrogen for export in the form of ammonia and liquid hydrogen.

Chief Executive Officer Meg O’Neill said the building in the Kwinana location is about more than hydrogen. H2Perth also will facilitate growth of renewables in Western Australia by providing the grid with a flexible and stabilizing load that benefits uptake of intermittent renewable electricity by households and local industry, she said.

The project will stimulate local hydrogen demand, particularly in the transport sector and among local heavy industry. Local refueling stations can be built independently of the export project timelines and could be in operation as early as 2023, subject to approvals and consumer demand.

O’Neill said H2Perth is designed to be a net-zero emissions project for both Woodside and its customers.

Woodside will now begin community engagement along with detailed progress with customers. Subject to commercial and regulatory approvals and a final investment decision, construction of H2Perth is expected to begin in 2024.