New plan to transition NSW to green hydrogen by 2027

Infinite Green Energy (IBE, formerly Infinite Blue Energy) has revealed a new strategy to transition large fossil fuel users in NSW to green hydrogen to assist the state’s companies de-carbonise.

The initial target for “Project NEO” is 1GW of 100 per cent Green Hydrogen reliable baseload power via a combination of Solar PV, Wind Turbines & Hydrogen Fuel Cell Technology.

Project NEO is initially focused on providing 1GW, but the concept is scalable, and potentially able to provide a significant proportion of the region’s electricity requirement.

Traditionally, this level of electricity generation has only been achievable using coal or gas fired power stations, but Green Hydrogen is now a viable alternative.

Project NEO, which will commence with a feasibility study and detailed design over the next 18 months, is focused on transitioning the traditional reliance on coal fired and/or gas fuelled electricity to green hydrogen-generated baseload electricity.

A traditional weakness with solar and wind energy is the variability associated with a reliance on natural seasonal changes and conditions.

By converting the solar and wind energy into Green Hydrogen, it is possible to provide electricity when there is no wind, a cloudy day or limited to zero sun exposure at night via its fuel cell technology.

IGE CEO, Stephen Gauld, said the company’s vision was to show the world that Australia has the technology, skills and entrepreneurial mindset to be a true leader in the development of green hydrogen plants.

“We are currently in robust negotiations with major electricity users in the NSW Hunter Region that have confirmed their intentions to transition to Green Hydrogen baseload electricity this decade,” Mr Gauld said.

“IGE is negotiating over 1000MW of electricity currently generated by coal and natural gas to a source of Green Hydrogen baseload electricity.”

Project NEO, which is estimated to cost a total of $3.5 billion when built, generates green hydrogen with renewable wind and solar energy, which is then stored before being converted into electricity by fuel cells.

With its commitment to regional communities and encouraging further jobs through skills diversification, Infinite Green Energy anticipates that a significant proportion of the workforce required for Project NEO will be drawn from the existing coal fired power stations in NSW, since many of the skills are similar.

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