Queensland “super-hybrid” green hydrogen project gets Indigenous name and support

The developers behind the Sunshine Hydro pumped hydro renewable energy project near Miriam Vale have this week partnered with the Gidarjil Development Corporation and Burnett Mary Regional Group (BMRG) to help in the development of the mammoth project.

Sunshine Hydro and its partner Energy Estate unveiled the “world first” super-hybrid green hydrogen project earlier this year, which has been valued at up to $5.5 billion and will combine as much as 1.8GW of new wind generation and 600MW of pumped hydro with 18 hours of storage.

The project, dubbed the Flavian super hybrid project, will also provide power to 300MW of hydrogen electrolysers, 50MW of liquefaction, and a 50MW hydrogen fuel cell, and would have the capacity to produce 65 tonnes of green hydrogen a day.

Located within the proposed Central Queensland Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) in the Gladstone-Bundaberg area, near Miriam Vale, Sunshine Hydro this week announced that they had formalised a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Gidarjil Development Corporation and BMRG.

The MoU was formalised with First Nations representatives from the Gurang and Gooreng Gooreng peoples in a ceremony involving a Welcome to Country, smoking ceremony, as well as the launch of an Indigenous project name inspired by the traditional local language, Djandori gung-I, which means ‘spirit in the water’.

“It was powerful to be on country to explain the rich cultural heritage of these lands, while being respectfully and meaningfully engaged in their future,” said Dr Kerry Blackman, managing director of the Gidarjil Development Corporation, which is made up of representatives from the Gurang and the Gooreng Gooreng peoples.

“The MoU outlines the deep partnership and commitment among parties to optimise environmental, social, and economic benefits, including local employment and further recognition of our cultural values.”

“The MoU demonstrates a mutually respectful partnership between traditional owners and BMRG, the region’s peak body for natural resource management, to genuinely meet the challenges of climate change through reliable renewable energy to decarbonise industry,” added Sunshine Hydro’s Chairman Michael Myer.

“Sunshine Hydro is committed to demonstrating how the renewables industry and traditional owners can work together on innovating power generation in Australia and beyond, while respecting and protecting the natural environment.”