Queensland’s emerging hydrogen industry
Fortescue Future Industries (FFI), Powerlink and Economic Development Queensland have signed agreements to connect sites at Gibson Island and Aldoga near Gladstone to Powerlink’s transmission network to allow renewable electricity to power proposed hydrogen projects.
FFI are seeking to build a facility at Gibson Island to produce around 50,000 tonnes of renewable hydrogen per year. Connection to the transmission network is vital to allow renewable energy to power this facility.
To support the project, Powerlink is proposing to construct 3km of overhead transmission line between its existing Murarrie Substation and a new switchyard to be established at Gibson Island.
Proposed works at Aldoga include establishing a connection to Powerlink’s existing Larcom Creek Substation, a 275kV overhead transmission line, and a new substation at the Aldoga facility.
Connecting renewable energy to emerging industries such as hydrogen production demonstrates the integral role the transmission network will play in the energy transformation and decarbonisation of the economy.
Enabling the Gibson Island Project
Regulatory Consultation
Powerlink completed the funded augmentation consultation to augment the transmission network to enable renewable hydrogen production at Gibson Island in June 2023.
The three stage consultation process which commenced in February 2023 has been conducted in accordance with the requirements of sections 5.18 and 8.9 of the National Electricity Rules.
Powerlink anticipates that the proposed transmission network augmentation to enable renewable hydrogen production at Gibson Island could provide a range of social, technological, environmental and economic benefits while also supporting Queensland’s development as an emerging hydrogen superpower.
Powerlink’s final determination is to undertake a transmission network augmentation to enable renewable hydrogen at Gibson Island. Works are expected to commence in Quarter 4 2023 with completion by October 2025.
Stage 3, publication of the Final Report and Determination (Final Report) in June 2023, concluded the stakeholder consultation process for this project. The Final Report and other reports published during the consultation process are available in the section on the right.