Kogan renewable hydrogen project given the green light


The Queensland Government has announced that CS Energy will build a renewable hydrogen facility in 2022, next to Kogan Creek Power Station.

The planned demonstration facility near Chinchilla will see CS Energy producing renewable hydrogen on the Darling Downs in less than two years’ time.

Producing over 50,000kg of renewable hydrogen each year, this state government-owned hydrogen plant signals an “investment in renewable energy to create long-term, sustainable jobs for Queenslanders,” Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said.

“To position our state to capitalise on the renewables revolution, we must invest in new assets and partner with the private sector to create jobs. That’s exactly what we’re doing,” Premier Palaszczuk said.

The Kogan Creek project supports investment in renewable energy as a key component of Queensland’s plan for economic recovery and signals a pivot towards innovation and market offering expansion for traditional sectors. Rather than using power from the grid, hydrogen produced at the site will use “behind the meter” renewable energy.

Minister for Energy, Renewables and Hydrogen Mick de Brenni said. “the plant will be built beside the highly efficient Kogan Creek Power Station and will include the co-location of a solar farm, battery, hydrogen electrolyser and hydrogen fuel cell.”

“This is an opportunity for publicly owned CS Energy to stake its territory in the hydrogen sector and expand Queenslanders’ ownership of renewable energy assets,” said Mr de Brenni.

CS Energy CEO Andrew Bills said the project offers multiple benefits for CS Energy because of hydrogen’s ability to be used as both a fuel and as a way to store energy.

“The feasibility study done in collaboration with IHI Corporation Japan confirmed the optimum design of the renewable hydrogen plant and that Kogan Creek Power Station was a good location with existing assets and plenty of space for expansion opportunities. CS Energy will source water for the plant from its existing bore water licences and current Kogan Creek Power Station operations demineralised water infrastructure,”  Mr Bills said.

“In addition to selling hydrogen into the domestic market, CS Energy can use the plant’s battery to provide grid stability services in the Frequency Control Ancillary Services Market.”

“We are also really excited about the skill development and opportunities this project will provide to our people.”

In partnership with Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise, CS Energy will map and uncover the capability and potential of local skills in the region that can be utilised to support the growing hydrogen supply chain, including within the company’s existing workforce.

Construction of the facility is expected to begin in 2022 and commissioning in early 2023.

To learn more about the project: