PRESS RELEASE
09 March 2023
Sundown Pastoral Co and Hiringa Energy have partnered to introduce the next chapter of low-carbon, sustainable agriculture, and welcome New South Wales Government’s announcement of funding under the NSW Hydrogen Strategy.
The Good Earth Green Hydrogen and Ammonia (GEGHA) project will see an integrated solar energy to hydrogen and ammonia operation implemented at the Wathagar ginning facility, on the ‘Keytah’ agricultural property, near Moree in northern New South Wales – the world’s first Good Earth Cotton farm, producing climate positive and traceable cotton.
Built in partnership with hydrogen leader Hiringa Energy who is the project developer, joint owner and operator, the GEGHA project will provide a long-term sustainable pathway for multiple hard-to abate agricultural and logistics activities in the Moree area, including ammonia-based fertilizer, onfarm energy use and the transportation of agricultural goods to export markets. GEGHA demonstrates the opportunity for a more secure, localised and low-carbon supply chain for replacement of emissions-intensive imported fertilizer, diesel and LPG used in the agricultural and transport sector in NSW and more broadly.
By supplying low-carbon hydrogen for refuelling of heavy road transport at sites in the Moree region through the specialist expertise of Hiringa Energy, the GEGHA project has the potential to stimulate growth of the hydrogen transportation sector locally and throughout NSW. This would provide a broad range of agricultural producers with the opportunity to decarbonise the transport-related emissions as they move their crops to increasingly attractive global markets for lower-carbon food and fibre.
The GEGHA project will involve the installation of the 27 MW Wathagar Solar Farm, providing energy for the seasonal ginning operations, feeding excess electricity into the grid, and creating hydrogen and ammonia to displace diesel, LPG and alternative nitrogen-based fertilizers. The project is being carried out in stages, with the near-complete 9 MW first stage to be followed by two more 9 MW modules.
The GEGHA project leverages the Kanowna Solar Farm, which has been operational and connected to the National Electricity Market since 2019. The proven design and demonstrated operational capability of that facility goes a long way to de-risking the project and condensing timeframes for achieving measurable results, as the general design of the Kanowna Solar Farm is being replicated at the Wathagar Solar Farm.
Some of the hydrogen is converted to anhydrous ammonia (NH3) for on-farm fertilizer use at ‘Keytah’ and other regional properties, and the balance will be utilised in multiple applications to displace diesel and LPG in stationary motors, mobile farming plant, and the drying of raw cotton.
GEGHA intends to produce about 45,000 MWh of energy per annum (equivalent to powering over 4,000 homes), making 3,800 MT of anhydrous ammonia to displace the equivalent of 6,800 MT of imported urea, as well as enough low-carbon hydrogen to displace more than 1.4 million litres of imported diesel.
David and Danielle Statham, owners of Sundown Pastoral Co and the visionaries behind climate positive regenerative cotton program Good Earth Cotton and traceability technology FibreTrace, set out with a mission to showcase that Australian agricultural leaders have an integral role to play in reduction of climate impact.
“Hydrogen and green ammonia provide a unique opportunity to secure cost effective, clean, secure energy for power, heat, farm operations and transportation, as well as green fertilizers for agriculture – it is so important for us to be part of leading this change for the environment and our communities” said David Statham.
GEHGA’s production of anhydrous ammonia would come at an important time for the Australian agricultural sector. Following the recent closure of domestic production capacity and diversion of ammonia to make explosives for mining and supply international markets, some farmers decided against utilising the fertilizer source in 2022. This reduced crop production levels and downgraded the quality of the produce (e.g. low protein wheat).
With its dedicated focus on the agricultural fertilizer market, the GEHGA project will not only increase local agricultural production, but also decarbonise it, by manufacturing fertilizer close to the point of use and eliminating the carbon-intensive use of methane feedstock, while using renewable energy to drive the process.
The project is estimated to directly abate around 20,000 tonnes of CO2 per year at full capacity, assuming direct substitution of existing emissions-intensive urea and anhydrous ammonia fertilizer, diesel and LPG. There is substantial additional indirect abatement and safety benefits associated with reduced shipping and heavy vehicle movements required to bring fertilizer and diesel across the world to coastal import facilities, then unload, store, reload and truck them hundreds of kilometres inland to Moree.
Andrew Clennett, Chief Executive of Hiringa Energy, has guided the development of Hiringa’s globally leading commercial hydrogen heavy vehicle refuelling network currently under construction in New Zealand, as well as the Kapuni wind-to-hydrogen-to-urea project nearing its final investment decision.
“We have been seeking to transfer our hard-won hydrogen industry experience to the rapidly
developing Australian hydrogen market, and are very pleased to have found such a suitable partner in Sundown Pastoral. As developer, project manager and operator of the GEGHA project, we look forward to proving the technical and commercial model at GEGHA, and investing further both in downstream refuelling facilities, and scaled-up low-carbon hydrogen and ammonia hubs in the coming years.”
David Heard, Hiringa’s Executive Director Australia added “This agreement gives Hiringa the
momentum to further build our capacity and presence in Australia with exciting opportunities
emerging in regions such as Moree and within our Australian business operations in Sydney.”
The Good Earth Green Hydrogen and Ammonia (GEGHA) project is set to decarbonise, decentralise, and improve the resilience and security for a cleaner Australian agricultural industry.
ENDS
For further information please contact:
Kara Hurry, Chief Marketing Officer, Sundown Pastoral Company kara.hurry@goodearthcotton.com
David Heard, Executive Director Australia, Hiringa Energy
About Sundown Pastoral Company
Sundown Pastoral Company is a privately owned Australian agricultural and pastoral enterprise. They are world renowned for their innovative farming techniques, sustainable production methods and environmental stewardship. Their quest to become one of the earth’s most environmentally sustainable agricultural enterprises has meant turning traditional farming methods on their head and questioning the conventional wisdom of every stage of agricultural production. Today Sundown Pastoral Company takes pride in its large scale sustainable and profitable farming business whilst being recognised for their environmentally stewardship and high ethical standards.
About Hiringa Energy
Hiringa Energy is a privately owned hydrogen energy company, founded in 2017. Hiringa develops projects and builds, owns and operates hydrogen infrastructure and renewables to decarbonise hard-to-abate sectors by substituting “green molecules” for high-emissions heavy transport fuels and chemical feedstocks. Hiringa has advanced several major hydrogen investments, including the Hiringa Refuelling New Zealand network in 2021 which is under construction for 2023 operation, and the Kapuni wind-to-hydrogen-to urea project. Hiringa is actively developing Australian projects with local and global investors and partners.
About the NSW Government Hydrogen Hub Initiative
The views expressed herein are not necessarily the views of the NSW Government. The NSW Government does not accept responsibility for any information or advice contained herein.