Australia is set to be handed a huge boost to its hydrogen production and distribution capabilities with GeelongPort  investing A$100m ($71m) to develop a hub in the area.

As well as this, GeelongPort also revealed that it has signed an agreement that will see CAC-H2 be the hub’s foundation green hydrogen developer leveraging the company’s expertise in the sphere of hydrogen.

It is expected that the hydrogen hub will be operational in December 2023 and hopes it will situate the port as Australia’s most sustainable bulk port.

GeelongPort has also partnered with Startupbootcamp’s Greater Geelong Hydrogen Technology cluster and is engaging with interested parties to identify future partnership opportunities in developing the Geelong Hydrogen Hub at GeelongPort.

Brett Winter, CEO of GeelongPort, said, “We acknowledge that climate change is one of the biggest challenges facing communities globally, and we need to do everything we can at a local level to respond and minimise these impacts.

“As an infrastructure asset and key regional gateway for Victoria’s supply chains, we need to be adaptive and responsive to the impacts of climate change to ensure the long-term sustainability and resilience of businesses and communities that rely on us so heavily.

“This is why we are proud to be partnering with CAC-H2 as our foundation partner to generate Green Hydrogen and establish the Geelong Hydrogen Hub.

“The Geelong Hydrogen Hub will position Geelong as a leader in the development of clean energy infrastructure.”

Glenn Davies, CEO of CAC-H2, said, “We are excited to be partnering with GeelongPort and being the first to form part of the Geelong Hydrogen Hub.

“At CAC-H2, we are working hard to achieve net-zero emissions through the development of green hydrogen and renewable energy assets and look forward to bringing clean energy infrastructure to Geelong and Victorian communities.”