Portland to become renewables hub

Minister for Regional Development Harriet Shing announced the study for a renewable fuel manufacturing hub in the portside city, with A$500,000 invested through the Labor Government’s Portland Diversification Fund.

The feasibility study will be led by Portland H2 – a subsidiary of HAMR Energy – and will explore establishing a plant to produce green methanol. The study includes preliminary engineering and planning that would also include a 100-megawatt electrolyser to produce renewable hydrogen from water.

Portland is located near to Australia’s largest plantation, making it a prime location for the facility, says HAMR Energy. As part of the study, it will investigate using plantation forestry residue, such as harvest trimmings or damaged timber to produce the methanol.

Portland is also home to a deep-water port which sees 300 vessels and approximately five million tonnes of forestry product loaded each year.

HAMR Energy has already signed a memorandum of understanding with the Port of Melbourne, Maersk, ANL (a subsidiary of CMA CGM), Svitzer, Stolthaven Terminals, and ABEL Energy to explore the commercial feasibility of establishing a green methanol bunkering hub at the Port of Melbourne.

The collaboration will examine the transportation of green methanol from Portland to the Port of Melbourne for storage and bunkering services.