Canada's Amp Energy wins hydrogen contract in South Australia

Amp Energy has been selected as the lead developer for the Cape Hardy Port Precinct in South Australia.

The company will be collaborating with iron ore mining firm Iron Road Ltd under a strategic framework agreement, which concluded after a competitive bidding process.

Cape Hardy is a green manufacturing and industrial precinct with close proximity to large-scale renewable energy resources and the potential for green hydrogen and ammonia production.

Amp Energy plans to develop and build up to 5GW of electrolyser capacity over the next decade in the precinct, delivering over 5 million tonnes of green ammonia annually.

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The project is strategically attractive as the site has direct access to high-voltage power through existing transmission infrastructure, as well as a deep-water port that will facilitate the transportation of the hydrogen product.

Also, both the Traditional Owners of the land (the Barngala people) and the Eyre Peninsula landowners have shown support for the Cape Hardy project, coupled with financial backing from the Australian Government to the tune of AUS$25 million ($17 million) for further Port infrastructure development.

The Honourable Peter Malinauskas, MP Premier of South Australia, said in a statement: "The Cape Hardy precinct speaks to our State’s hydrogen production capabilities.

"This project complements my Government’s commitment to hydrogen, through the Hydrogen Jobs Plan. The Hydrogen opportunity will be transformative for the South Australian economy, delivering energy security - while helping the State decarbonise."

Project partner Iron Road owns the Central Eyre Iron Project (CEIP), an iron ore mining, beneficiation and infrastructure development on the Eyre Peninsula, South Australia. According to the South Australian government’s hydrogen export prospectus, Cape Hardy is the ideal location to leverage renewable energy recourses to encourage decarbonisation of industry and economic growth.