Australian company H2X is aiming to produce 20,000 hybrid vehicles from the new site at the port, which is yet to be confirmed, which will create around 5,000 direct jobs mostly based in the NSW Illawarra region
“With the development of many Green Energy projects in Australia at the moment, we have a unique opportunity to bring a significant manufacturing operation back to the country,” said Brendan Norman, chief executive officer of H2X.
Unique opportunity
Mr Norman said the portfolio will include locally designed and built heavy and industrial vehicles, including tractors through to large marine and train applications, as well as a range of passenger cars.
Speaking at a recent Illawarra Innovative Industry Network (i3net) industry breakfast at the Novotel Northbeach, H2X Australia chief powertrain and production officer Peter Zienau said that once the H2X plant opens it will be the start of a continual improvement process to remain globally competitive in the production of hydrogen vehicles.
He added that the production of the first vehicles at Port Kembla in the second half of 2022 was timed to coincide with the roll-out of adequate infrastructure, ensuring that enough hydrogen is being produced and adequate refuelling capacity is in place for motorists driving hydrogen cars.
Mr Zienau said he is due to return to the port shortly to announce the preferred site for the hydrogen car factory.
H2X already has projects producing energy and hydrogen in Port Bundaberg, Port Kembla and in Dubbo in the NSW Renewable Energy Zone.