Port of Newcastle has shared the final plan for its $100 million Clean Energy Precinct, a project set to make the site one of Australia’s most advanced clean energy hubs.
Launched by Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen, the plan shows the precinct is ready to welcome global investors.
Covering 220 hectares on Kooragang Island, the development will handle the production, storage, local supply, and export of green hydrogen and ammonia. With Commonwealth funding, it aims to turn Australia’s largest coal port into a clean energy hub by 2030.
Work on Front End Engineering Design (FEED) and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is already in progress, led by Lumea (electrical systems), coNEXA (water), and GHD (infrastructure). These studies will help get planning approvals and finalise designs so construction can start quickly.
“This is the design we’re offering to global clean energy companies and it guides the planning approvals we will be seeking,” said Craig Carmody, CEO of Port of Newcastle.
“We’ve seen strong interest from partners in Germany, Japan, and South Korea.”
The plan includes hydrogen and ammonia plants, a recycled water facility, pipelines, storage areas, and loading zones. It will also have grid connections, power lines, and substations. The project will use 1.6 gigawatts of electricity and 22 megalitres of recycled water without affecting community supplies.
The Port expects the precinct to create over 5,800 jobs and add more than $4.2 billion to the Hunter Region’s economy by 2040. It will also boost Australia’s hydrogen exports, with green ammonia demand expected to top 600,000 tonnes annually from 2030.
“The Hunter has been an industrial powerhouse for decades, making Port of Newcastle the perfect place for a clean energy hub that can cut heavy industry emissions and link Australia’s renewable energy to the world,” Bowen said.
Deputy Speaker Sharon Claydon added:
“Land once planned for a coal terminal will now lead the global clean energy shift.”
