Port of Newcastle has revealed the final master plan for its $100 million Clean Energy Precinct.
The project is intended to position the site as the most advanced clean energy development in the nation.
Unveiled today by Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen, the master plan signals the precinct’s readiness for global investment.
The 220-hectare precinct on Kooragang Island will facilitate the production, storage, domestic distribution, and export of green hydrogen and ammonia. Backed by Commonwealth funding, the project aims to transform Australia’s largest coal port into a clean energy hub by 2030.
Front End Engineering Design (FEED) and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) studies are currently underway, led by engineering firms Lumea (electrical), coNEXA (water), and GHD (infrastructure). These studies will guide planning approvals and site layout, enabling expedited construction of production and export facilities.
“This is the design that Port of Newcastle is offering global clean energy production companies and directs the planning approvals the Port will be seeking,” said Port of Newcastle CEO Craig Carmody.
“We have received strong international interest in occupying these sites, particularly from partners in Germany, Japan and South Korea.”
The design includes hydrogen and ammonia production facilities, a recycled water plant, associated pipelines, laydown areas, and staging zones. Electrical infrastructure such as grid connections, transmission corridors, and substations are also incorporated. The project will use 1.6 gigawatts of electricity and 22 megalitres of recycled water, with no net impact on community utilities.
According to the Port, the Clean Energy Precinct is expected to generate more than 5,800 new jobs and contribute over $4.2 billion to the Hunter Region’s gross product by 2040. It will support Australia’s hydrogen export ambitions, with green ammonia demand forecast to exceed 600,000 tonnes per annum from 2030.
“The Hunter has been an industrial and economic powerhouse for decades, making the Port of Newcastle an ideal location for a Clean Energy Precinct that can support decarbonisation of heavy industry and connect Australia’s renewable resources to the world,” Bowen said.
Deputy Speaker Sharon Claydon added, “Land once earmarked for a coal terminal will now be at the forefront of the global clean energy transition.”
More details are accessible here.
