InterContinental Energy (ICE), a key partner in the ambitious Western Green Energy Hub (WGEH) project, today announced the development of a proprietary technology that it says will significantly enhance the economic viability of large-scale green hydrogen production. The patented P2(H2)Node system is poised to transform the economics of the US$70 billion (A$110 billion) project located north-west of Eucla on Western Australia’s south-eastern coast.
The WGEH consortium, which includes CWP and Mirning Green Energy, aims to construct and operate a massive renewable energy infrastructure, encompassing 3,000 wind turbines, 35 solar farms, and a state-of-the-art green hydrogen facility across a 22,690 square kilometer area. The project has the potential to generate over 50 gigawatts of power, producing approximately 3.5 million tonnes of zero-carbon green hydrogen annually, positioning it as one of the world’s largest power projects.
ICE’s newly developed P2(H2)Node system directly integrates electrolysis plants with co-located wind and solar farms. This innovative approach eliminates the need for extensive long-distance electricity transmission, resulting in substantial cost reductions and improved efficiency. By standardizing design and utilizing modular construction, ICE anticipates the system will deliver up to 10 percent lower capital expenditure and up to 10 percent higher operational efficiency compared to conventional green hydrogen production methods.
Alexander Tancock, Chief Executive Officer of ICE, stated that the P2(H2)Node system will reduce complexity, accelerate project deployment timelines, and make giga-scale green hydrogen production economically viable and globally scalable. “The P2(H2)Node system is designed with global application in mind, particularly for coastal and remote regions rich in renewable resources but lacking robust grid infrastructure,” Mr. Tancock said. “Its decentralised, modular and flexible architecture allows for efficient deployment in a variety of settings, making giga-scale green hydrogen production feasible in locations where traditional models face significant barriers.”
Isaac Hinton, ICE’s Australian Country Manager, highlighted the potential of the Node system to unlock the full potential of ICE’s global portfolio, particularly the WGEH project. He noted that the technology would enable the lowest-cost, large-scale production of various hydrogen derivatives, including ammonia and e-fuels.
“With the support of recently announced Federal Government hydrogen incentives, WGEH is projected to drive down production costs for green ammonia below US$650 per tonne, unlocking transformative investment opportunities and significant job creation in Western Australia and the country more broadly,” Mr. Hinton said. “By making green hydrogen, ammonia and e-fuels cost-competitive, the P2(H2)Node will support decarbonisation across hard-to-abate sectors like steel, shipping, aviation and fertilisers.”
ICE will provide further details and design specifications of the P2(H2)Node system at the upcoming World Hydrogen Summit in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. A final investment decision on the Western Green Energy Hub project is anticipated in 2029.
