The first sod has been turned on one of Australia’s largest renewable H₂ projects, starting the energy transition for Albury-Wodonga’s gas network and providing a new source of renewable energy for regional industry, homes and businesses.

Federal Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Josh Wilson MP, joined project leader Australian Gas Infrastructure Group (AGIG), its partners and community leaders to mark the beginning of construction of the $65-MM H₂ Park Murray Valley project.

A 10-megawatt LONGi Hydrogen electrolyzer will form the centerpiece of the project, enabling H₂ Park Murray Valley to generate around 500 tons of renewable H₂ and eliminate upwards of 3,000 tons of emissions each year.

The renewable H₂ from the facility will be blended into the local network at up to 10% by volume to commercial and industrial gas users, and around 40,000 Albury-Wodonga homes and businesses.

Acting AGIG Chief Executive Officer, Cathryn McArthur said the start of construction is a positive signal about the potential for renewable gases in the energy transition.

“This is a project of significant scale, which brings us one step closer to establishing a renewable gas industry in Australia and responds to the needs of customers for more renewable generation to support Australia’s energy transition.

“AGIG is committed to reducing emissions and we believe that renewable gases can play a critical role through the transition - this will be our third H₂ project, following the success of our renewable H₂ Park facilities in South Australia and in Gladstone. 

“We have been encouraged by the interest from community and industry in the Murray Valley project, which includes the recent signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with North-East Water to explore the potential to use recycled water from its wastewater treatment plant as well as supplying it with surplus oxygen from the H₂ production process.

“Importantly this project is demonstrating the potential for industry to have greater flexibility in how they reduce their emissions, either by using blended gas delivered through the network or by purchasing renewable gas through a certificate scheme.” 

Mars Petcare has become the first business in Australia to take this path to reduce its carbon footprint, securing all Renewable Gas Guarantee of Origin certificates allocated to production at H₂ Park Murray Valley for its important food manufacturing business under GreenPower’s Renewable Gas Certification scheme.

H₂ Park Murray Valley is financially supported by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency, the Victorian Government and the Clean Energy Finance Corporation. 

“We thank the Australian and Victorian Governments for their support of this project, along with our project partners and the Albury-Wodonga community for welcoming this important facility.”