Proposed port hydrogen hub in jeopardy

A $100 MILLION green energy hub would be scuppered if Viva Energy’s planned floating gas terminal near the Port of Geelong goes ahead.

Port manager GeelongPort has quietly submitted a proposal to Victoria’s Planning Minister for its Geelong Hydrogen Hub at the same site, which it said could not co-exist with the gas storage infrastructure.

GeelongPort’s plan would create a production and distribution facility for green hydrogen created from imported ammonia, which would help transition industrial gas users away from fossil fuel use.

The port manager has requested the state government review early plans for its project to decide if it requires an Environmental Effects Statement (EES) for approval.

An EES is a rigorous assessment of proposals that have potential to significantly effect the environment, and is the mechanism presently being used to scrutinise Viva’s terminal.

GeelongPort referred its plan to Planning Minister Richard Wynne on May 5, as an Inquiry and Advisory Committee for Viva’s EES prepared for public hearings that started this month.

Its submission claimed that a green light for the Viva project would signal the end of its hydrogen project.

“Cumulative effects with the Viva Energy proposal are not anticipated on the basis that the two projects could not both proceed as presently proposed,” GeelongPort’s referral stated.

Expert evidence from UK maritime civil engineering consultant Martin Mannion, prepared on behalf of GeelongPort as part of the Viva inquiry, reinforced the ultimatum.

“It is also clear that the (gas terminal) project directly conflicts with GeelongPort’s own plans for a different proposed development in the same general area for a hydrogen hub,” he stated.

Mr Mannion’s report argued the GeelongPort project would have a lesser effect on its surrounds than Viva’s plan, due to its position further from land, ammonia being a lower-risk cargo than liquified natural gas, and ammonia-carrying vessels being generally smaller than LNG counterparts.

Viva Energy has its own proposal for a Geelong Energy Hub to develop and produce alternative energy sources, with potential projects to include a solar energy farm and battery, a hydrogen refueling station and crude oil storage.

But Viva insists its gas terminal would be a crucial component of its energy hub and be the first project developed.

Geelong Port first announced its planned Geelong Hydrogen Hub late last year in a partnership with international green hydrogen developer CAC-H2.

It has sought further interest for project partners for production and use of materials and would start community and stakeholder engagement this year in anticipation of its facility being online by the end of 2023.