An integrated solar energy to hydrogen and ammonia project planned for northern New South Wales will begin construction in October after financial close was reached this week.
The Good Earth Green Hydrogen and Ammonia (GEGHA) project was first proposed back in early 2023 by Australian farming company Sundown Pastoral Co and New Zealand company Hiringa Energy, the creators of Australasia’s first green hydrogen refuelling network.
The GEGHA project will consist of an integrated solar energy to hydrogen and ammonia operation adjacent to Sundown’s Joint Venture Wathagar cotton ginning facility, near Moree NSW.
The production facility will use renewable energy to generate hydrogen via electrolysis, which will then be used to make ammonia fertiliser with what is expected to be “negligible” CO2 emissions.
Located on Sundown Pastoral Company land, GEGHA will include 36 megawatts (MW) of solar generation capacity – including an existing 9 MW solar array and 27 MW of new capacity – and supported by a 41 megawatt-hour (MWh) battery energy storage system and a low-capacity grid connection.
A total of 15 MW worth of electrolysis will be operational, relying on renewable electricity and locally sourced water.
Once operational – the target date is early 2027 – GEGHA will produce up to 4,500 tonnes of low-carbon ammonia each year, serving to displace high-carbon fossil fuel-based nitrogen fertilisers and removing up to 17,000 tonnes of CO2-equivalent emissions annually.
The resulting ammonia-based fertiliser will be used by Sundown to support the production of its positive net-zero and traceable Good Earth Cotton.
Excess supply will also be made available to other regional growers.
In addition to the production of ammonia, the GEGHA facility will also supply approximately 224 tonnes of green hydrogen each year for direct use by Hiringa’s heavy-vehicle refuelling network, as well as on-farm to displace diesel in irrigation pumping.
Storage capacity for 600 tonnes of ammonia and 3 tonnes of hydrogen will also be constructed.
“Getting the green light for green fertiliser production isn’t just about producing low-carbon ammonia,” said Andrew Clennett, Hiringa co-founder and CEO.
“It’s a model for overcoming the obstacles that have held back the establishment of these new green industries. By strategically partnering with Sundown Pastoral Co, we’re anchoring demand with supply to meet the immediate needs of the agricultural sector.”
Traditional fertilisers use ammonia which is most often produced by using natural gas or coal, resulting in high emissions. Further, the current fertiliser supply chain is highly reliant on imports, making it extremely susceptible to global disruption and price volatility.
GEGHA aims to turn this tradition on its head, offering East Coast Australia’s first green fertiliser supply which is capable of delivering competitive and stable pricing for fuels and feedstocks.
This is particularly important for Good Earth Cotton, a subsidiary of Sundown Pastoral Company, and which produces climate positive and traceable cotton. According to Good Earth Cotton, its farming sequesters more carbon than it emits across its entire growth lifecycle.
“Agriculture is always adapting – as farmers we have adapted for generations,” said David Statham, owner of Sundown Pastoral Company.
“We have been measuring our emissions and reductions for the past five years. There is an increasing demand for fibres that demonstrate a lower footprint and the GEGHA project allows us to further control the reduction of our emissions.”
