Hydrogen 'Super Hub' For Newcastle

 BY IAN CROUCH

Much has already been made of plans to create a hydrogen hub at the Port of Newcastle, but today (Thursday 28 April, 2022) Energy Minister Angus Taylor will announce further funding to create a Hunter Super Hydrogen Hub.

$41 million dollars will be added to the Newcastle Hydrogen project and a further $41 million will be added to Origin Energy's H2 Hub project, which the government estimates will create more than 2,300 jobs.

The government says national clean energy projects could directly support 16,000 jobs by 2050, along with a further 13,000 jobs in renewable energy construction.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison says the investment will unlock the Hunter's clean energy future.

 Energy Minister Angus Taylor

 

Gas Fired Power Plant At Kurri Kurri Gets Go Ahead

 BY IAN CROUCH

The federal government is pressing ahead with a gas-fired power plant at Kurri Kurri.

Energy Minister, Angus Taylor has confirmed government-owned Snowy Hydro Limited has been given $600 million to build the 660 megawatt plant on the site of the former Hydro Aluminium Smelter.

It's expected to be generating power in time for summer in 2023/24 despite an Environmental Impact Statement showing it will need to run on diesel for at least six months while a permanent gas connection to the Sydney-Newcastle gas pipeline is completed.

The project is expected to create 600 construction jobs and 1200 indirect jobs, however the plant itself will only need 10 people to operate it.

Energy Minister Angus Taylor said new gas supply would strengthen the economy and make energy more affordable.

The Kurri Kurri plant is part of a strategy to avoid a rise in power prices once the Liddell Power Station closes in 2023.

The power plant will be built on the site of the former Hydro Aluminium Smelter