The New South Wales government has approved an innovative green hydrogen and ammonia project near Moree aimed at helping farms reduce emissions, with the facility expected to supply renewable fuel and fertiliser for agricultural operations in the region.
The Good Earth Green Hydrogen and Ammonia project, described by the NSW government as one of the first large-scale facilities of its kind in the state, will be powered by renewable energy and is intended to support the decarbonisation of farming activities that traditionally rely on diesel and fossil-fuel-based fertilisers.
The more than $70 million project is a joint venture between Hiringa Energy Pty Ltd and Sundown Pastoral Company. The NSW government is contributing $45.2 million to support the development, which has now reached financial close.
Once operational, the facility is expected to produce enough green hydrogen to generate about 4,500 tonnes of ammonia annually for use as both fuel and fertiliser.
The plant will primarily supply Sundown’s Keytah cotton farm, which the government says will end its reliance on diesel and fossil fuel-produced fertiliser.
Any surplus production will be made available to other local farming operations in the region, potentially supporting efforts to reduce emissions across northern New South Wales’ agricultural sector.
According to the NSW government, the project is expected to create at least 60 jobs during construction and around 10 permanent roles once operational.
NSW Minister for Energy and the Environment Penny Sharpe said the project illustrates how renewable technologies can be applied in sectors that are often difficult to decarbonise.
“The Good Earth Green Hydrogen and Ammonia project demonstrates how renewable energy is helping reduce emissions in sectors like agriculture that are traditionally difficult to decarbonise,” Sharpe said.
“NSW is building the technology to cut emissions, support our industries and create new jobs of the future.”
The government said the project also demonstrates how ammonia production could be decentralised, potentially reducing the need for long-distance freight movements associated with traditional supply chains.
NSW Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully said initiatives like the Moree project highlight how industry is evolving as the state transitions to cleaner energy sources.
“This is a project that will power the regional economy while helping NSW move towards a cleaner, more resilient energy future,” Scully said.
“Innovations like this which not only replace the use of traditional fossil fuels but cut the need for lengthy transportation are an exciting sign of how industry is evolving to support more sustainable outcomes.”
NSW Minister for Agriculture Tara Moriarty said the project reflects ongoing innovation within the agricultural sector.
“This is a great example of how the oldest industry in the world – agriculture – is to this day continuing to find ways to innovate,” Moriarty said.
“This is a great project that will see local farms able to replace fossil fuels with renewables supporting a more sustainable future in NSW.”
The government said the development is also expected to contribute to establishing a commercial-scale green hydrogen and ammonia supply chain in northern NSW.
