No projects from Bell Bay have been shortlisted as part of the Australian Government’s $2 billion Hydrogen Headstart program.
The only major proponent left at Bell Bay, Abel Energy has missed out on shortlisting for hydrogen funding. It was one of the only projects in Australia without a State Government funding commitment and in the only hydrogen hub in the country without a funding agreement. Of the five regional hydrogen hubs announced across the country, only one remains without a funding agreement: Bell Bay.
Abel Energy put forward an incredible Green Methanol project that would transform the old Bell Bay Power station into a green methanol plant. Tasmanian Labor strongly supports it but the entire hydrogen hub project has been bungled from start to finish. Soon after being lured to the state, proponents were told there was no power available at any price and there was no plan to deliver water to the site.
There was good news for one former bell Bay proponent: Origin Energy.
Origin Energy was shortlisted for a hydrogen project… in the Hunter Valley.
They have literally picked up, left Tasmania and set up in New South Wales owing to a shortage of power and uncertainty over water supply – the two components required to make hydrogen.
With the state economy showing signs of being in serious trouble and young people leaving in droves for the mainland, Tasmania can no longer afford the incompetence of this tired, 10 year old Liberal government.
Dean Winter MP
Shadow Minister for Energy
