Townsville’s SunHQ Hydrogen Hub, located within the Sun Metals refinery precinct in Stuart, is being spotlighted as a pivotal project at Asia-Pacific Hydrogen 2024 Summit & Exhibition this week.
One of the world’s leading hydrogen industry events brings together leaders and visionaries from the global hydrogen industry, and showcases the latest advancements, technologies, and solutions, with Townsville squarely in the mix as a leader in green hydrogen production.
Developed by Ark Energy, Sun Metals’ sister company, SunHQ is a renewable hydrogen refuelling facility for heavy transport producing renewable hydrogen at the co-located Sun Metals Solar Farm.
Michael Choi, Ark Energy CEO and Sun Metals CFO, who also spoke at the Summit, said he was proud of the group’s strides in leading Australia’s hydrogen industry and decarbonisation of hard-to-electrify sectors.
“We’re proud for SunHQ to be showcased at Asia-Pacific Hydrogen 2024. SunHQ is Ark Energy’s first major renewable hydrogen project and is positioning North Queensland as a leader in the hydrogen economy. At the time of commissioning later this year, SunHQ will be one of the largest fully integrated, renewable hydrogen production and refuelling facilities in Australia.”
As one of Australia’s leading hubs for renewable hydrogen fuels development and investment, phase one of SunHQ is due to be operational by the end of 2024, producing 150 tonnes of renewable hydrogen per annum.
Townsville Enterprise CEO Claudia Brumme-Smith emphasised that recognition of SunHQ and Townsville at the Summit underscored the region’s long-standing success in attracting investment and fostering economic growth.
“It is brilliant to see Ark Energy and SunHQ featured at Asia-Pacific Hydrogen 2024 and is evident of our region’s potential to harness and grow the emerging hydrogen industry,” Ms Brumme-Smith said.
“Townsville Enterprise continues to lead our North Queensland Hydrogen Consortium – ensuring that the region leverages our natural advantages in this potential growth sector.”
“In 1996, we fought hard in our advocacy to secure Stage 1 of the State Development Area and obtain the electricity incentives needed to attract Sun Metals to Townsville. With Ark Energy also now making a home here in Townsville, we can see how securing Sun Metals almost three decades ago continues to reap benefits and further investment for the region.”
“Now, as the country’s largest zinc refinery with hundreds of millions more in future investments, and on the path to becoming the world’s first green refinery, Sun Metals truly is the gift that keeps on giving.”
