Greenhill Energy has launched their $425-MM plans to build Australia’s first full integrated processing facility to convert landfill waste and sustainable biomass into high value products such as fertilizers and synthetic fuels, and into low-cost clean H₂ for use in emission free power and transport.

Following recent positive trials and ongoing research and development, Greenhill Energy has secured 20 hectares of land at Tailem Bend in South Australia’s Murraylands for their flagship clean H₂ project, The Riverbend Energy Hub.

Within 5 years, Greenhill Energy Executive Managing Director Nicholas Mumford said annually the waste-to-H₂ facility, at full capacity, is expected to divert up to 200,000 tons of waste from landfill, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by avoiding release of environmentally harmful methane, with CO₂ produced onsite used in the manufacturing of over 100,000 tons of urea fertilizers.

“We have been granted State Government crown sponsorship across the project and, pending approvals, 2025 will see the construction of a singular gasifier, in our first phase,” Mumford said. “This will be able to process up to 60,000 tons of dry biomass or waste per year, which is around 1,500 fully loaded semi-trailer trucks.

“Riverbend Energy Hub’s stage one will also include an integrated power plant that will be able to provide firm power into the wholesale electricity market, and in turn, support further development of intermittent renewable energy generation types,” he said.

“We estimate thet the project will create around 300 jobs, during construction. Once established and operating at full scale it is estimated there will be around 50 to 100 direct jobs, and no doubt further indirect jobs through sustainable biomass development and the like.”

The project will be underpinned by integrating proven H₂ processing and manufacturing technologies, within a unique closed system, as Australia’s economy and industry seeks to decarbonize.