The government aims to have a taxpayer-funded 250-megawatt hydrogen production facility, 200-megawatt hydrogen power plant and a hydrogen storage facility up and running in early 2026 at Whyalla, in the state’s north. More than 60 companies put in an expression of interest and the government is aiming to announce the successful bidder by October.
The company has struck agreements with governments in Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Namibia to advance hydrogen plans in those countries, providing turnkey solutions where multiple numbers of the 12-metre boxes containing hydrogen fuel cells can be connected to provide electricity.Mr de Charentenay said the group was also in talks with large mining companies to supply the units at mining sites.
Mr de Charentenay said existing buildings at Holden could be utilised, and production lines installed for the hydrogen fuel cells, adding: “It’s more off the shelf.”at the Elizabeth plant in late 2017, and in 2020 US parent General Motors announced it would ditch the Holden brand, with 185 Holden dealerships scrapped around Australia.