A major milestone in the Hydrogen Jobs Plan has been achieved as GE Vernova has been selected as the preferred supplier of state-of-the-art, fully hydrogen-fuelled turbines.
The South Australian Government, together with consortium partners ATCO Australia and BOC, is advancing the Hydrogen Jobs Plan, which includes hydrogen production, power generation and storage in Whyalla, Upper Spencer Gulf.
The partnership includes the purchase of key equipment, including 100% hydrogen-fuelled turbines for power generation.
At the heart of the initiative are four GE Vernova aeroderivative LM6000VELOX turbine generators, each equipped with LM6000 turbines and primed to run on 100% renewable hydrogen produced on-site by 250MWe electrolysers.
Recognised for its expertise in natural gas power technology, GE Vernova's Gas Power division has the world's largest installed base of gas turbines with over 670 million operating hours across its fleet.
With rapid start-up capabilities, these turbines provide flexible power supply, ideal for grids such as South Australia's, which are characterised by a high penetration of renewable energy.
Scheduled to be operational in early 2026, the hydrogen plant will use South Australia's excess renewable energy from large-scale wind and solar farms to produce renewable hydrogen.
This hydrogen will be stored and used to power the turbines, injecting renewable energy into South Australia's electricity grid during periods of low renewable generation.
This initiative will further enhance South Australia's status as a leader in renewable energy, complementing its impressive record of generating 74% of its electricity from renewables by 2022-23.
In addition, the plant will provide hydrogen opportunities for local industries looking to decarbonise their operations.
The project's Early Contract Involvement (ECI) will continue into the second quarter of 2024 and will focus on detailed project and engineering design, equipment procurement, finalising contract arrangements and cost estimation.
With a significant $593 million investment from the State Government, the Hydrogen Jobs Plan aims to establish the Upper Spencer Gulf region as a major clean energy hub, cementing South Australia's global leadership in the sustainable energy transition.