Countrywide Hydrogen originates renewable hydrogen projects to meet emission-free targets.
Green hydrogen is the fuel of the future.
And the future is now.
Latest News
Keep up-to-date with our latest news, projects, reports and media releases here.
Our Projects
We are currently developing four renewable hydrogen projects, two in Tasmania and two in Victoria. We have additional projects in our pipeline, both locally and offshore, to supply the growing demand for green hydrogen.
Hydrogen Karimun, Indonesia
In collaboration with Anantara Energy, a consortium of Quantum Energy (Singapore) and ib vogt (Germany), Countrywide Hydrogen is developing a large-scale renewable hydrogen production facility using behind-the-meter power from Anantara’s massive 3.5GW solar installation in the Riau Archipelago.
The site for this project is less than 50kms from Singapore. Electricity from the project will decarbonise Indonesia and can be transmitted the short distance to Singapore via an underwater cable. Hydrogen from the project will be used to decarbonise Indonesia and can be exported to Singapore and other Asian nations that see hydrogen as their emissions reduction solution for power generation, transport and logistics and displacement of natural gas.
Hydrogen Launceston, Tasmania
CH is collaborating with Launceston Airport to create a circular economy for the generation of electricity and production of hydrogen. The use of airport land is limited by the height of any installation and ground-mounted solar provides the opportunity to generate electricity to supply the airport and for hydrogen production.
Given the size of the airport, capturing water for hydrogen production completes the circular economy with the production of two energy sources.
Hydrogen from the projects will be supplied to the road transport sector, materials handling and to Tas Gas for a proposed new gas network at Western Junction’s TRANSlink industrial development. Tas Gas has an intention to blend hydrogen with natural gas in the area as well as into the Launceston grid. Opportunities are also being investigated to supply 100% hydrogen to industrial customers in TRANSlink.
Hydrogen Brighton
At up to 10MW, the Brighton project in the south, near Hobart is unique in that it will complete the Brighton Circular Economy precinct by producing and supplying green hydrogen to Hobart’s natural gas network and directly to industrial customers, some seeking to operate on 100% hydrogen which is a national first. Buses and trucks will also be supplied with hydrogen either at a refuelling station as part of the precinct or delivered to their respective depots depending on preference.
Supplying green hydrogen to domestic customers will create investment in infrastructure such as refuelling stations and fuel cell service centres, develop new skills in the maintenance and service of fuel cell vehicles, and eliminate emissions while reducing the Tasmania’s reliance on imported fuels.
Hydrogen Bell Bay
Bell Bay has been identified by the Federal Government as one of Australia’s future hydrogen hubs with $70m in funding provided to support a hub development. Further funding support will be available through the Tasmanian Government, a commitment made in the Tasmanian Renewable Hydrogen Action Plan released in 2020.
Located in the Bell Bay Advanced Manufacturing Zone (BBAMZ), the Bell Bay project near George Town in the north, involves a 10 MW pilot project producing 4.5 tonnes per day of hydrogen to supply the domestic market, targeting the road transport sector, the Tasmanian gas network operated by Tas Gas, and supplying industrial customers.
Hydrogen Portland
In Portland in Victoria’s southwest, we are developing a renewable hydrogen project. Stage 1 of the project will be a 10MW electrolyser supplying hydrogen to local industrial, mobility and gas customers. The second stage will expand the project to at least 500MW to supply hydrogen or hydrogen derivatives to the export markets of Japan and Korea, where there is strong interest in collaboration from their respective trading companies.
Portland was selected as a project site because of the strong electrical infrastructure that was established to support Alcoa’s aluminium smelter, the Port of Portland’s infrastructure, and the scale of wind projects in the area now and in the future. With a 1GW offshore wind farm close to Portland to be constructed by Alinta Energy, large-scale hydrogen production has a big long-term future.
Melbourne Hydrogen Hub
The Victorian Government has mandated that after 2025, all new buses to operate on public transport routes will be emission free. As such, we were requested by the Bus Association of Victoria to supply renewable hydrogen for up to 40 transit buses to be introduced onto Melbourne’s roads progressively from the end of 2023. This became the genesis of our Melbourne Hydrogen Hub (MHH) project.
The project will be in Melbourne’s northern suburbs, which is a road transport corridor. Interest has also been expressed by a major natural gas company to blend MHH hydrogen into its distribution network.
The Hub will comprise renewable hydrogen production, vehicle refuelling, service and maintenance, injection into the natural gas network, a fuel cell bus fabrication plant that will supply buses to the participating companies, and oxygen supply to the hospital network.
About Us
Emerge, Renew, Transform.
Countrywide Hydrogen is a wholly-owned subsidiary of ASX-listed ReNu Energy Limited (ASX:RNE), an Australian company investing in renewable and clean energy companies.
Founded in 2015, we are a leader in the origination of renewable hydrogen projects to help the world meet its zero emission targets.
We coordinate the development of projects in collaboration with partners who bring expertise in engineering, modelling, technology, environmental impact, grant funding, legal and finance.
With pipeline projects located in Australia and in North America, our vision is to pursue renewable energy opportunities where clean energy contributes to sustaining economies, eliminating emissions, and delivering growth opportunities.
All of our projects are based on our foundation pillar methodology, requiring:
A guarantee of origin renewable energy, targeting high-capacity availability at an acceptable price
Hydrogen or hydrogen derivative offtakes
Access to clean water
Land available near a deep-water port for large-scale projects with supporting infrastructure
Positive regulatory and approvals environment
Availability of project-based Government funding
Our history.
Countrywide Hydrogen (formerly Countrywide Renewable Energy) was founded in 2015 by passionate clean energy specialists Geoffrey and Inge Drucker, with a vision to become a leader in renewable energy generation and production.
Determined to make a contribution to a better world, the dynamic husband and wife duo’s first project was the 27MW Wangaratta Solar Farm.
The release of Dr Alan Finkel’s seminal paper Hydrogen for Australia’s Future in 2018 identified the market potential of hydrogen, heralding a new name and strategic direction for the company. Now Countrywide Hydrogen, the company’s sole focus became the origination and development of new hydrogen facilities to help meet emissions reduction targets.
Today, Countrywide Hydrogen has four renewable hydrogen projects underway – two in Tasmania and two in Victoria – with a pipeline of new projects both locally and offshore.
In 2022, Countrywide Hydrogen merged with ASX-listed ReNu Energy Limited (ASX:RNE), a company that invests in renewable and clean energy technologies. The merger provided Countrywide access to industry leading collaborators to expedite its project pipeline and access to capital markets to fund its hydrogen projects.
As the world’s transition away from diesel and other carbon fuels accelerates, hydrogen will emerge as the fuel of the future.
Working with Governments, partners, suppliers and OEMs to develop opportunities for renewable hydrogen to significantly reduce emissions, Countrywide Hydrogen is well placed to make a major contribution as a green hydrogen producer and supplier with long-term projects.
The Way We Do Business
At Countrywide Hydrogen, we energetically pursue excellence in all that we do.
And we firmly believe that we should make a meaningful contribution to the environment and the communities that we work with and within.
In all our business operations, and in every interaction, we act with transparency, honesty, clear communication, and collaborative decision making.
We call this The Countrywide Hydrogen Way. It ensures all our stakeholders know and understand the values and principles that underpin the way we go about our business.
We collaborate.
Key decisions are made consultatively, and we welcome questions, ideas, and challenges. We value true partnerships based on mutual respect and trust.
We communicate.
Nothing is a surprise. We speak truthfully, openly, and directly, and most importantly, we listen. We act with integrity and maintain a high level of professionalism in all our dealings with partners, communities, network and our team.
We focus on results.
We work together to achieve the best outcome. We energetically pursue excellence through quality and make sure that when we’re done, we measure our impact.
We are constantly growing and learning.
In everything we do, we get better every time. This is because we ask for feedback and take that on board.
Our Partners
We work closely with collaborators that further build on our Board and management team's proven track record in renewable energy research and development. In 2022, we brought on partners in engineering and financial advisory to complement our offer and bring our vision to life.
Wood PLC
Global engineering firm, Wood PLC, is committed to finding solutions to the world’s most critical challenges in energy and the built environment, and is passionate about helping achieve a successful transition to clean energy and renewables.
With their deep experience in the hydrogen industry, we engaged Wood to provide ongoing general advice on our projects and on the broader hydrogen space. When required, under a supplementary agreement, Wood provides detailed engineering consultancy to support specific projects.
