Iberdrola Australia and the hydrogen developer Abel Energy will build a green hydrogen and green methanol production plant in Bell Bay, in northern Tasmania (Australia), which will have an investment of 1,100 million euros, as announced by the Spanish energy company this Monday.
The project, called 'Bell Bay Powerfuels' and backed by the Australian Government, will produce 200,000 tons of green methanol per year in its first phase of development and, in its second phase, could amount to 300,000 tons, which makes it a of the largest plants in the world.
Australia is identified by the World Hydrogen Council as one of the leading countries in the global hydrogen routes that will be developed until 2040 due to its proximity to consuming countries such as Japan and Korea, as well as its strategic location on world hydrogen routes. transport by ship, a transport where the commitment to hydrogen derivatives such as methanol or ammonia as an energy source is increasingly powerful.
Iberdrola Australia has explained that the construction of this plant will mean the development of renewable energy plants that will support the production of green hydrogen. The Spanish energy company estimates that the project can create 500 jobs, of which 200 of them will be directly locally hired.
The Chairman and CEO of Iberdrola Australia, Ross Rolfe, has stated that this investment demonstrates the company's "commitment" to help Australian companies reduce their carbon emissions in sectors in which it is more difficult to carry out. "We are very happy to be able to combine Iberdrola's global experience in green hydrogen technologies with the local knowledge and commercial drive of Abel Energy", he added.
For his part, the co-founder and CEO of Abel Energy, Michael van Baarle, has expressed his desire to "push forward" green hydrogen on a commercial scale in Australia. "We are delighted to have the support of Iberdrola as a financial partner and as an expert in the construction and operation of large-scale renewable energies," he stated in the note issued.
