The Good Earth Green Hydrogen Ammonia (GEGHA) project is set to decarbonise, decentralise, and improve the resilience and security for a cleaner Australian agricultural industry.
Built in partnership between hydrogen leader Hiringa Energy who is the project developer joint owner and operator; and cotton producers Sundown Pastoral Co the GEGHA project will provide a long-term sustainable pathway for multiple hard-to-abate agricultural and logistics activities in the Moree area including ammonia-based fertilizer on-farm energy use and the transportation of agricultural goods to export markets.
GEGHA demonstrates the opportunity for a more secure localised and low-carbon supply chain for replacement of emissions-intensive imported fertilizer diesel and LPG used in the agricultural and transport sector in NSW and more broadly.
By supplying low-carbon hydrogen for refuelling of heavy road transport at sites in the Moree region through the specialist expertise of Hiringa Energy the GEGHA project aims to stimulate growth of the hydrogen transportation sector locally and throughout NSW. Hydrogen provides a broad range of opportunities for agricultural producers to decarbonise transport-related emissions as they move their crops to global markets for lower-carbon food and fibre.
The GEGHA project will involve the installation of the 27 MW Wathagar Solar Farmproviding energy for the seasonal ginning operationsfeeding excess electricity into the gridand creating hydrogen and ammonia to displace dieselLPG and alternative nitrogen-based fertilizers. The project is being carried out in stageswith the near-complete 9 MW first stage to be followed by two more 9 MW modules.
Some of the hydrogen is converted to anhydrous ammonia (NH3) for on-farm fertilizer use at ‘Keytah’ and other regional propertiesand the balance will be utilised in multiple applications to displace diesel and LPG in stationary motorsmobile farming plantand the drying of raw cotton.
GEGHA intends to produce about 45000 MWh of energy per annum (equivalent to powering over 4000 homes)making 3800 MT of anhydrous ammonia to displace the equivalent of 6800 MT of imported ureaas well as enough low-carbon hydrogen to displace more than 1.4 million litres of imported diesel.
David and Danielle Stathamowners of Sundown Pastoral Company and the visionaries behind climate positive regenerative cotton program Good Earth Cotton and traceability technology FibreTrace set out with a mission to showcase that Australian agricultural leaders have an integral role to play in reduction of climate impact.
“Hydrogen and green ammonia provide a unique opportunity to secure cost effectivecleansecure energy for powerheatfarm operations and transportationas well as green fertilizers for agriculture – it is so important for us to be part of leading this change for the environment and our communities” said David Statham.
The Australian agricultural sector has recently seen the closure of domestic production capacity and diversion of ammonia to make explosives for mining and supply international marketsas a result some farmers decided against utilising the fertilizer source in 2022. This reduced crop production levels and downgraded the quality of the produce (e.g.low protein wheat).
With its dedicated focus on the agricultural fertilizer marketthe GEHGA project intends to increase local agricultural productionand decarbonise itby manufacturing fertilizer close to the point of use and eliminating the carbon-intensive use of methane feedstockwhile using renewable energy to drive the process.
The project is estimated to directly abate around 20000 tonnes of CO2 per year at full capacityassuming direct substitution of existing emissions-intensive urea and anhydrous ammonia fertilizerdiesel and LPG. There is substantial additional indirect abatement and safety benefits associated with reduced shipping and heavy vehicle movements required to bring fertilizer and diesel across the world to coastal import facilitiesthen unloadstorereload and truck them hundreds of kilometres inland to Moree.
Andrew ClennettChief Executive of Hiringa Energyhas guided the development of Hiringa’s globally leading commercial hydrogen heavy vehicle refuelling network currently under construction in New Zealandas well as the Kapuni wind-to-hydrogen-to-urea project nearing its final investment decision.
“We have been seeking to transfer our hard-won hydrogen industry experience to the rapidly developing Australian hydrogen market and are very pleased to have found such a suitable partner in Sundown Pastoral. As developer project manager and operator of the GEGHA project we look forward to proving the technical and commercial model at GEGHA and investing further both in downstream refuelling facilities and scaled-up low-carbon hydrogen and ammonia hubs in the coming years.”
David HeardHiringa’s Executive Director Australia added “This agreement gives Hiringa the momentum to further build our capacity and presence in Australia with exciting opportunities emerging in regions such as Moree and within our Australian business operations in Sydney.”
