HYDROGEN PROJECTS
687. Dr D.J. HONEY to the Minister for State Development,
Jobs and Trade:
I refer to the welcomed
announcement regarding the blue hydrogen project that will be based in the
Kwinana and Rockingham strategic industrial estates. Why is the government able
to facilitate a blue hydrogen development based on gas but is unable to provide
industrial land for a 100 per cent renewable-powered green hydrogen project
development with Fortescue Future Industries?
Mr R.H.
COOK replied:
It is just not true. We work with
any proponents, and we work with them very effectively. Can I correct the
member? It is not blue hydrogen. That particular plant will feed off the
renewable energy inputs into the south west interconnected system and the
project will use that peak generation, particularly during the day, to flatten
and stabilise the demand and supply curves of the SWIS during the day.
Dr D.J. Honey: It's
blue.
Mr R.H. COOK: The member
might say it is blue, but it is probably blue and green; does that make yellow?
Several members interjected.
Mr R.H. COOK: Purple,
turquoise—I like that. We could be turquoise, but it is clean energy
and a great development that will provide over 2 000 jobs in
construction and 200 jobs in operation. I cannot speak for Fortescue Future
Industries and the projects it is putting forward or the way that it engages
with the state government. Clearly, Woodside,
a great Western Australian company, has done a great job in bringing this
project to its construction phase. We are very much looking forward to
working with them and all other proponents around the state to make sure that
we get this, with this great new period of Western Australian economic growth
around hydrogen and other renewable forms of energy for the future.