Geelong green energy vision
GEELONG should be designated a “Hydrogen Innovation Zone” with the former Ford factory transformed into a demonstration site for green hydrogen production, according to a Labor think tank.
A John Curtin Research Centre report argues the state government should support “a large-scale hydrogen electrolyser” at the factory, now known as Fortek Geelong, and upgrade the water and gas facilities to demonstrate at scale the production and integration of hydrogen with Victoria’s electricity and gas networks.
It says the government should explore the feasibility of using waste water sourced from the Western Treatment Plant at Werribee Farm to support the concept, which is built on developing zero-emission green hydrogen produced using renewable energy.
The owners of Fortek Geelong, the Pelligra Group, is leasing factory roof space to establish a major solar energy installation, which the John Curtin Research Centre report says could generate excess power that could power the hydrogen plant.
The “recommendations” are contained in a high-level blueprint for the development of a Victorian hydrogen industry over the next 20 years.
The report, “Building the Victorian Hydrogen Industry”, outlines a raft of steps, including crucial skills development, needed to be taken by the state government to foster a largescale hydrogen industry.
“For the sake of our economy, our jobs, and our environment, we do not have time to play catch up,” the report says. “A Victorian hydrogen industry represents a once-ina-lifetime opportunity if we get the investment and policy settings right, Victoria will play an integral role in shaping Australia’s long-term economic recovery from COVID-19.”
The report says by designating Geelong a Hydrogen Innovation Zone, the government should seek to defray costs, upgrade public infrastructure assets, and encourage private investment by offering a more collaborative regulatory approach.
“Designating a hydrogen development zone in Geelong reduces risk to investors by signalling an intent to work collaboratively, ‘white labelling’ the zone from a regulatory perspective (meaning environment, planning, safety and other regulations should be negotiable for demonstration projects in the zone), will help in levelling the energy playing field,” the report says.
While not responding directly to the call for infrastructure spending in Geelong, the Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change, Lily D’Ambrosio, said Victoria was already poised to be the green hydrogen capital of Australia by investing in research and innovation.
The Pelligra Group declined to comment.