The federal government's chief advisor on low-emissions technologies has praised a plan to create a Hunter hydrogen network.
Dr Alan Finkel, said the $2 billion plan put forward by a consortium including AGL, GE, APA Group, Idemitsu and commodities trader Trafigura was an example of the "stunning" developments that were occurring across the globe as energy systems transitioned to zero emissions technologies.
"The level of activity is intense," he said.
"The green strategy for the Hunter is part of that - just the fact that this consortium has come together to put a proposal like this together is extremely exciting. I doubt it would have happened just a year ago."
The first stage of the Hunter Hydrogen Network project aims to produce green hydrogen and associated green feedstock for mining, vehicles and other industrial uses in the Hunter.
The second phase will assess the transportation of hydrogen through a dedicated hydrogen pipeline to Newcastle, supplying future local users and exporters, including producers of green ammonia for export, green feedstock into the chemical sector, green fuels and hydrogen turbines to provide green dispatchable energy.
Dr Finkel was Australia's chief scientist from 2016 to 2020. He has since been appointed Special Adviser to the Commonwealth Government on the research, development, transition, and application of low emissions technology.
He will speak at the Newcastle Conservatorium next Wednesday about readying the Hunter for low emissions technologies as part of the University of Newcastle's Looking Ahead in Conversation series.
Dr Finkel recently returned from Western Australia's Pilbara region where the Fortescue Metals Group has set a target of reaching net zero emissions by 2040.
The strategy revolves around the introduction of solar, wind, battery and hydrogen technologies to decarbonise its mining activities.
"What they are doing over there can certainly be done in the Hunter Valley region," Dr Finkel said.
In addition to reducing mining emissions, the plan would also assist green steel manufacturers in Australia and elsewhere.
"They (manufactures) want to know that the iron ore they are using has zero or very low emissions and will be transported by train to the coast and by ship to their receiving port by zero emissions technology," he said.
Dr Finkel's address will commence at 5pm, Wednesday 26 May at the Newcastle Conservatorium of Music, Laman Street, Newcastle.
