Several proponents have been conditionally allocated land in the Lansdown Eco-Industrial Precinct (LEIP) following tender processes conducted by Council.
Council continues to work with all proponents to bring their proposed developments to fruition and unlock the jobs and economic stimulus they will provide to our city and region.
Companies such as Queensland Pacific Metals Townsville Energy Chemicals Hub project, Edify Energy’s green hydrogen production facility, and Project Green Poly are already well advanced in planning for construction at Lansdown over coming years.
Current proponents seeking to develop projects in the Precinct are:
Fuel cells and green hydrogen
Aosun Energy plans to develop a manufacturing facility at LEIP to produce fuel cells and green hydrogen. Major products will include a range of different fuel cells, hydrogen refuelling systems and the onsite production of green hydrogen.
After the manufacturing facility is completed, Aosun Energy will be able to provide a fully integrated fuel cell and power system solution, including the supply of green hydrogen to serve customers across Australia.
Aosun Energy will establish their base in Townsville with investment focused on green energy products to support zero emissions and climate goals.
Green hydrogen production facility
With a DA-approved large-scale (1GW) green hydrogen facility, as well as a behind-the-meter solar photovoltaic and battery storage facility within the LEIP, Edify will have the capacity to meet the domestic and export needs for this emerging emission-free fuel.
The LEIP will be an integral part of Australia’s first environmentally sustainable advanced manufacturing, technology and processing hub. The facility’s green hydrogen will meet the urgent need domestically and across the world for this emission-free fuel. Investment in green hydrogen will create new industries, boost business and future-proof careers.
Edify, in partnership with Siemens Energy, has conditionally secured grant funding through the Australian – German HyGATE initiative. A joint initiative between ARENA, and Germany’s Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), the funding was awarded due to the project’s advanced stage of development and planned innovative technology, namely the advanced electrolyser plant with integrated behind-the-meter renewable energy generation.
In addition, Edify has successfully secured grant funding through the Australian Government’s Regional Hydrogen Hubs program for the development of Townsville’s Green Hydrogen Hub. The Australian Government is contributing $48.2 million to Edify’s green hydrogen production facility in the LEIP, creating new energy supply chains and connecting supply and demand.
Battery Innovation Centre Australia
Energy Development Corporation Pty Ltd (EDC) has selected LEIP as the site for its new battery cell manufacturing facility, Battery Innovation Centre Australia Pty Ltd (BICA).
BICA has secured the necessary land at LEIP via a highly competitive process. LEIP has been selected due to its location and proximity to both regional rare earth minerals and lithium mining, proposed mineral processing facilities, together with rail, road and sea transportation hubs.
BICA is currently funded through development stage in partnership with investors from Singapore, transitioning over 20 years of experience in the design and manufacture and marketing of battery cells globally, into the Australian market.
Initially, BICA will produce Lithium-ion, Sodium-ion battery cells with Solid State cells coming online by 2029. BICA is targeted to commence production by Q4 2027 and will sell product into the Australian domestic market as well as to global clients. BICA will produce over 1.2 million battery cells per day by 2030, delivering over 3.4GW of battery cells/annum into various markets.
The facility is designed to provide maximum flexibility with respect to the actual battery cell design and chemical composition and will utilise the very latest in robotics and automated systems. The facility will provide around 200 full-time jobs during construction (2027), and 260 up to full-time jobs across two shifts, when in full production, circa 2030.
By 2030, BICA will be fully Australian owned and managed, contributing significantly to a sovereign battery manufacturing industry in Australia. BICA will establish the NQ Renewable Energy Campus, working in partnership with other industry proponents, universities and TAFE, with a focus on transitioning knowledge and skills in energy storage solutions to the Australian renewable energy industry.
Ultra-high purity quartz sand processing facility
High Purity Quartz Ltd (HPQ) plans to develop a significant solar PV grade, ultra-high purity quartz sand (UHPQS) processing facility at LEIP, using ore from a quartz resource near Forsayth in Queensland.
In collaboration with others at LEIP, it will also supply quartz for production of metallurgical grade silicon (MG-Si) smelter and refinery. UHPQS and MG-Si are the two critical material inputs to potentially facilitate green-tech solar PV wafer and module manufacturing in Townsville.
HPQ will complete its Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS) shortly, which will show technical feasibility and an economically strong project, operating over three locations in Queensland, including the final stage Advance Processing Facility at LEIP. HPQ secured an Australian Government grant under its flagship Critical Minerals Development Program (CMDP) to fund 50% of the PFS costs.
In conjunction with the LEIP Advanced Processing Facility, HPQ has plans to establish a pre-processing facility in Mount Garnet with both sites offering high-tech, full-time employment across a range of highly skilled disciplines to create long-term value for the communities in Townsville and in regional Queensland. The mining will be undertaken by a regional mining contractor, further supporting economic value in the region.
Townsville Energy Chemicals Hub (TECH) Project
The TECH Project is being developed in response to the growing demand for electric vehicles, particularly nickel and cobalt. Once operational, the project will be a world-leading zero waste, carbon negative, sustainable, clean and green production facility, employing up to 1,400 people during construction and approximately 350 when operational.
The project is backed by world-class shareholders, including South Korean Companies LG and POSCO and US industrial giant General Motors (GM). Combined, the 3 companies have contributed and committed over $125 million of equity funding, with GM alone having committed $108 million. All three manufacturers have invested to secure their share of nickel and cobalt to power electric vehicles.
In January 2024, the TECH Project was granted $16 million in funding, split equally between the Commonwealth and the State Government. This is supporting Queensland Pacific Metals to complete the Bankable Feasibility Study. Work has commenced on bench scale test work with pilot test work planned for mid-2026. Completion of the Bankable Feasibility Study is expected in early fourth quarter 2026.
Project Green Poly
The global demand for solar materials continues to increase. Queensland has a unique opportunity to use its minerals and sunshine to build a resilient, ethical and local energy supply chain which will support the worldwide transition to a cleaner energy future.
Project Green Poly is a program of interrelated projects which will combine to create Australia’s first integrated solar silicon supply chain, powered primarily by low emission energy. The first stage is called metallurgical silicon, and the second stage is called polysilicon.
After its full development, the program is expected to create 2000+ jobs in and around Townsville. It is expected to operate for at least 30 years, helping create jobs for the workforce of Townsville.
PEP and Solquartz are working to help reach Queensland’s clean energy transition targets in a way that aims to deliver community benefit and minimises potential impacts. We aim to create local jobs and business opportunities in an environmentally friendly way.
