A new 50,000kg renewable hydrogen demonstration plant to begin construction in next six months
The demonstration plant will be powered by behind-the-meter solar energy
Edify Energy selects Tesla Megapack for Victoria-based energy storage systems

Construction of a renewable hydrogen plant to fuel heavy transport in Queensland’s Western Downs is set to start in the next six months, the Palaszczuk Government announced yesterday.

Publicly owned by CS Energy, a cash injection of $28.9mn by the Queensland state government will help bring the Kogan Renewable Hydrogen Demonstration Plant near Chinchilla to life.

Once operational in 2023, the facility will produce 50,000kg of renewable hydrogen each year.

Strong interest from offtakers

Minister for Energy, Renewables and Hydrogen Mick de Brenni said it is “one of the most advanced renewable hydrogen projects in Queensland”, with CS Energy’s recently announced collaboration with Japan’s Sojitz Corporation set to export hydrogen to Palau.

There’s also strong interest from potential off-takers in the domestic heavy transport and haulage sector.

“The demonstration plant’s hydrogen electrolyser will only be powered by behind-the-meter solar energy, making it one of the few truly renewable hydrogen projects in Australia,” he said.

The demonstration project includes the co-location of a solar farm, battery, hydrogen electrolyser, hydrogen fuel cell, hydrogen storage and out loading facility, which will be built next to CS Energy’s Kogan Creek Power Station but will only be powered by renewable energy from the solar farm.

Construction is expected to begin in September 2022 once all relevant development approvals have been finalised.

CS Energy will operate and maintain the plant once it is completed and will form part of CS Energy’s energy hub at Kogan Creek.

Edify Energy selects Tesla Megapack for NSW projects

Renewable energy development and storage investment company, Edify Energy has selected Tesla Megapack for its 300MWh battery storage projects in NSW.

Located in the Murrumbidgee Shire, the Riverina and Darling Point Energy Storage systems will make up three independent projects totalling 150MW with two hours of storage.

Edify says the facility will use advanced inverter technology – an emerging grid forming technology that allows solar and other inverter-based sources to restart the grid independently, to connect into the Transgrid’s network at the Darlington Point Substation.

“These Megapack systems will serve to add more flexible, dispatchable capacity to the NSW market and will complement the significant presence of renewable generation in the region,” Edify Energy said in a statement.

Reach Resources appoints new CEO

Following its recent announcement revealing the strategic investment of REEgenerate Pty Ltd – a US based rare earth element (REE) separation and tech company, Reach Resources (ASX:RR1) says it has appointed a new CEO the board.

Bringing more than 15 years’ experience to the company across the mining, agricultural and industrial sectors, RR1 managing director Robert Downey says Jeremy Bowers will hit the ground running and provide value to its shareholders.

Newly appointed CEO Jeremy Bowers said: “I was attracted to the company because of its unique blend of highly prospective mineral resource projects in addition to the recent investment in REEgenerate, together which form a solid foundation to build value for shareholders”.