BY HOLLY FISHLOCK
The State Government has announced a $45 million funding agreement to build the Hunter Valley Green Hydrogen Hub on Kooragang Island.
The project intends to reduce existing emission-intensive businesses' reliance on fossil fuels.
NSW Energy Minister Penny Sharpe says the funding will scale up the industry, and will play a key role in transitioning NSW to support clean energy.
"The whole world is currently really in a race to find how to make hydrogen technology work, so things like the hydrogen hub are really going to make that work well. NSW is very committed to this," she said.
The Hunter is one of the leading industrial regions in NSW, contributing $50 billion to NSW's gross state product.
Ms. Sharpe says the project will boost NSW's position as a major regional and international hydrogen supply chain.
"We want to be not just the first in NSW, we want to be world leaders. We want to set NSW up for the future to be leaders in relation to hydrogen technology. The hydrogen hub is really going to help us with that."
The project is estimated to generate over 200 jobs in construction.
