Plug Power has announced that the 50-megawatt (MW) Hunter Valley Hydrogen Hub (HVHH) project in Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia, has reached final investment decision (FID), moving the project into execution and advancing the delivery of Plug's GenEco proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzers. The Hunter Valley Hydrogen Hub is being developed by Orica, a global leader in mining and infrastructure solutions operating across more than 100 countries.

Located adjacent to Orica's existing ammonia manufacturing facility on Kooragang Island, the Hunter Valley project will use renewable electricity to produce renewable hydrogen via electrolysis, progressively replacing natural gas in the company’s production of low-carbon ammonia and ammonium nitrate. These are essential products for Australia's mining, agriculture, and industrial sectors. The HVHH is the largest green hydrogen project in Australia to reach FID, and the first among the recipients of Australia's Hydrogen Headstart program, which awarded AU$432 million in production credits to support the project through the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA).

At full capacity, the facility is expected to produce approximately 4,700 tpy of renewable hydrogen, displacing around 7.5 percent of Orica's natural gas consumption at Kooragang Island, the equivalent of removing approximately 26,500 cars from Australian roads annually.

"Reaching FID on the Hunter Valley Hydrogen Hub is a significant milestone for Orica, for Australia's hydrogen industry, and for Plug," said José Luis Crespo, CEO of Plug. "Being selected as the electrolyzer OEM for the country's largest renewable hydrogen project to reach FID, and the first Hydrogen Headstart project to move into the execution phase, reflects the confidence our customers place in Plug’s technology and our ability to deliver at scale. Australia is a key part of our global growth story, and this project reinforces our expanding presence across the Asia-Pacific region."

“This final investment decision is a significant milestone in bringing the Hunter Valley Hydrogen Hub to life. It demonstrates Orica’s commitment to maintaining the competitiveness of both our manufacturing operations and the Hunter Valley, while strengthening Australia’s sovereign manufacturing capability. Importantly, it supports the reliable, lower-carbon supply of critical inputs to industries such as mining and agriculture," said Germán Morales, Orica Group President - AusPac and Sustainability. "We selected Plug as our electrolyzer OEM because of its proven track record in delivering large-scale PEM systems and their ability to support a project of this complexity and ambition. We look forward to bringing this facility online and supplying low-carbon ammonia to the mining, agriculture, and industrial customers who depend on us."

Plug's selection for the HVHH reflects the company's deep footprint in the Australian hydrogen market and its growing global project pipeline. Plug has significant activations in Australia, having previously supported electrolyzer projects across the country, including an electrolyzer in Townsville that has already started production, and an electrolyzer in Chinchilla, Queensland.

With more than 320 MW of GenEco electrolyzer systems deployed across six continents, Plug continues to leverage its growing installed base to optimize system performance, streamline commissioning timelines, and deliver proven, reliable hydrogen solutions at scale. The HVHH project adds to Plug's growing portfolio of landmark hydrogen projects, including the 100 MW Galp project in Portugal, one of Europe's largest electrolyzer installations, as the company's global pipeline continues to advance from development into execution.