Construction of Pilbara Hydrogen Hub gains ground

Construction of the Pilbara Hydrogen Hub at Port Hedland on the north coast of Western Australia (WA) is progressing with road and intersection upgrades to support the import of wind turbine and renewable energy components.

The Pilbara hydrogen hub is poised to become a major center for hydrogen production and export, with the potential to become an international gateway to Australian-made green steel and iron.

Construction on the road and intersection began as scheduled on August 12. The road and intersection work at Lumsden Point will support the import of wind turbine and renewable energy components into the Pilbara, as well as the export of battery metals such as lithium and copper concentrates.

To complement the Lumsden Point development, a new grade-separated rotary interchange will be constructed at the current intersection of Great Northern Highway and Pinga Street.

Two new single-span, 15-meter-long structures, with four lanes over a round underpass, will connect Pinga Street to the new Lumsden Point Access Road.

New ramps will allow access on and off the Great Northern Highway, with new turning pockets to be built at the Lumsden Point Access Road.

The Pilbara Hydrogen Hub is expected to become operational in mid-2028, with a planned pipeline enabling hydrogen production of around 492,000 tons per year.

The Australian Government has committed $565 million in grant funding to support common user port upgrades at Port Hedland and Dampier in the Pilbara.

In February 2024, the Australian and WA Governments finalized a $140 million agreement to build a hydrogen hub in the Pilbara.

The combined $140 million investment ($70 million each from the Australian and WA Governments) will help build infrastructure to support hydrogen exports as well as fund activities for a Clean Energy Training and Research Institute.

Western Australian Premier, Roger Cook, commented on the development: “The Pilbara is a globally recognised resources hub and demand for renewable energy will only become stronger into the future. By building our hydrogen production capability, we are investing in the future of the Pilbara.

“The work being done now will ensure that the region that powers the nation’s economy can be powered by renewable energy.”