Edify’s Lansdown Green Hydrogen Facility gets tick of approval
Date published: 22 September 2021
The development of the Lansdown Eco-Industrial Precinct has achieved a new milestone today with Townsville City Council formally approving the first development application over land within the precinct.
Edify Energy proposes to build and operate an up to 1 GW green hydrogen production plant as well as a behind-the-meter solar photovoltaic and battery storage facility at the precinct. Edify’s initial plans involve generating green hydrogen from a pilot scale facility of 10 megawatts and increasing capacity in stages to meet the needs of a growing domestic and export green hydrogen market.
Mayor Jenny Hill said the application had been independently assessed by Council’s planning officers and approved with conditions relating to development staging, roadworks and traffic safety upgrades.
“Momentum continues to build behind the development of northern Australia’s first environmentally sustainable, advanced manufacturing, processing and technology estate right here in Townsville,” Cr Hill said.
“Edify’s application is a major vote of confidence in our city, our developing green hydrogen industry and our Lansdown Eco-Industrial Precinct.
“Edify’s desire to establish itself at the precinct supports Council’s ongoing efforts to work with both the State and Federal Government through the Townsville City Deal to get the precinct investment ‘turn-key’ ready as soon as possible.”
Edify Energy Chief Executive Officer John Cole welcomed Council’s approval of the development application and said the Lansdown Eco-Industrial Precinct represented a future vision of Australian industry and energy.
“We’re very pleased to be a leading player in the establishment of Lansdown, a blueprint for new age environmentally sustainable industrial ecosystems.” Mr Cole said.
“The eco-industrial precinct not only supports the use of natural mineral resources for advanced manufacturing and production, but also the use of renewable energy from the approved and co-located Majors Creek Solar Power Station, utilising advanced grid friendly technology and storage to dispatch renewable energy when it is most needed. Electricity from renewable sources is an essential part of green hydrogen production and the decarbonising of advanced manufacturing in Australia.”
“Existing rail and road infrastructure connecting Lansdown to the Port of Townsville makes the precinct an excellent location to lead the renaissance of exporting value-added Australian-made products to global markets. We have long held the view that Townsville is a very good place to create a green hydrogen export industry and meet the growing need domestically and across the world for this emission free fuel.
“The linking of clean electricity generation with the proposed advanced eco-industrial activity at Lansdown, together with the hundreds of millions of dollars in investment and opportunities for future proofed careers is what delights us. Our hydrogen development supports the State and Federal Government jobs, industry and long-term post-COVID recovery policies.
“We look forward to working with local businesses, contractors, and suppliers and other stakeholders to make the Edify green hydrogen production plant and the Lansdown Eco-Industrial Precinct a success. We will continue to innovate and develop solutions that meets the needs of energy markets and industry.”
Cr Hill said the Lansdown Eco-Industrial Precinct had the potential to significantly boost Townsville and North Queensland’s economy for decades.
Two other companies, Queensland Pacific Minerals and Imperium3 Townsville (iM3TSV), have also signed up to establish themselves at the precinct.
Queensland Pacific Minerals plans to produce battery-grade nickel and cobalt sulphate from nickel-cobalt ore while iM3TSV plans to develop an 18 GWh lithium-ion battery cell manufacturing facility.
“Lansdown is really significant to the city with the potential for thousands of jobs to be created which would be a huge boost to our economy and bring new skills to the community, particularly when the local economy is recovering from the impact of the COVID-19 global pandemic,” Cr Hill said.
“We welcome the State Government’s strong support of this jobs-generating precinct and we will continue to lobby the Federal Government to similarly get behind the initiative and help realise the jobs and economic benefits it will deliver for North Queensland.”
