Orica has reached the final investment decision (FID) for the Hunter Valley Hydrogen Hub (HVHH) in Australia. The project will be a commercial-scale renewable hydrogen facility integrated with Orica’s ammonia manufacturing plant at Kooragang Island in New South Wales. The project will produce approximately 4,700 tonnes of renewable hydrogen annually, enabling the production of around 26,600 tonnes of low-carbon ammonia.
Construction for the project is expected to commence in 2026, with first production targeted for early 2029. Capital expenditure for the project is estimated at $245-283 million between 2026 and 2029. The project is also supported by the Australian Government, the New South Wales Government, and the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA). Furthermore, the project will help reduce natural gas feedstock demand by 7.5 per cent.
In October 2025, the Australian Renewable Energy Agency launched the second round of its Hydrogen Headstart programme, allocating up to $2 billion to accelerate the development of large-scale renewable hydrogen projects across the country. This round builds on the outcomes of the first phase and focuses on supporting projects that address key use cases and strategies to lower renewable hydrogen production costs over time.
