(Bell Bay / Australia) – The Spanish energy supplier Iberdrola SA and Abel Energy Pty. Ltd. want to build a 100 megawatt plant to produce green hydrogen and green methanol in Bell Bay in the north of the Australian island of Tasmania. According to Iberdrola, the investments for the project called “Bell Bay Powerfuels” amount to 1,1 billion euros.
Methanol for ship propulsion
Initially, 200.000 tons of green methanol will be produced in the port city per year. In the second expansion stage there are 300.000 tonnes. The energy source is used as fuel for ships. The construction of the facility is supported by the Australian Government, which will create 500 jobs, including 200 locally.
Iberdrola says it is currently developing 60 green hydrogen projects in eight countries. The goal is to produce 35.000 tons of hydrogen per year by 2025. By 2030 it should be more than 350.000 tons per year. The project portfolio amounts to 2.400 megawatts, primarily in Spain, the United States and Australia.
The company wants to invest up to three billion euros in renewable energies in Australia. Their installed capacity is expected to reach 4.000 megawatts “in the coming years”. Iberdrola had already announced the purchase of the “Mount James” wind farm in the state of Queensland in April 2022. The installation of wind turbines with 1.000 megawatts is possible there. The aim here is also to use the yield for green hydrogen.
The Spaniards have also acquired projects such as the “Avonlie” solar farm and the “Flyers Creek” wind farm in New South Wales as well as the Port Augusta renewable energy park in South Australia through their Australian subsidiary
Woodside and FFI are also planning projects in Bell Bay
Iberdrola is not alone in its ventures in Tasmania. In November 2021, the Australian oil and gas company Woodside Energy Ltd. Plans announced for 1,7 gigawatts of electrolysis capacity in Bell Bay.
Furthermore, for example, Tasmanian Ports Corporation Pty Ltd. (TasPorts) signed an option agreement with Fortescue Future Industries Pty Ltd (FFI) for the use of land in the port city of Bell Bay. FFI is planning to build a plant there to produce green hydrogen with an output of 250 megawatts.
Photos
Iberdrola plans to produce hydrogen to produce methanol in Bell Bay. © Iberdrola SA
