Global law firm Ashurst has advised National Australia Bank (NAB) as project financier to a joint venture between Australian agricultural enterprise Sundown Pastoral and developer of green hydrogen infrastructure projects Hiringa Energy to the Good Earth Green Hydrogen and Ammonia (GEGHA) project.
The GEGHA project located near Moree, New South Wales (NSW), is the first commercially financed hydrogen project in Australia. It is an integrated solar energy to low-carbon hydrogen and ammonia operation. GEGHA will produce up to 4,500 tonnes of low-carbon ammonia annually, displacing high-carbon fossil fuel-based nitrogen fertilisers and removing up to 17,000 tonnes of CO₂-equivalent emissions each year – the same as taking 6,500 passenger cars off the road or planting half a million trees.
Sundown Pastoral has agreed to take the green ammonia to produce fertiliser for its cotton production which will improve its sustainability credentials for its Good Earth Cotton product to meet growing consumer demand for lower carbon products. The GEGHA project basis of design includes:
- 36 MW of solar generation capacity including an existing 9 MW array and 27 MW of new capacity, supported by a 41 MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) and low-capacity grid connection.
- 15 MW of electrolysis, producing hydrogen from renewable electricity and locally sourced water supply.
- A 16 tonne per day ammonia plant, utilising hydrogen and air-captured nitrogen to manufacture ammonia.
- 600 tonnes of ammonia storage capacity to manage variable renewable energy supply and seasonal ammonia demand.
- 3 tonnes of hydrogen storage.
Lead partner David Mason said:
"We are delighted to have advised on this transformative deal. By enabling the development and deployment of green ammonia, this project will play a crucial role in removing significant volumes of CO₂ from the atmosphere and provide new opportunities to Australian farmers to contribute to a more sustainable future."
The Ashurst team was led by partner David Mason, who was assisted by: partners Mike Webb, Chris Campbell and Guy Dwyer (Projects & Energy Transition).
