Construction has commenced on New South Wales's (NSW) first end-to-end hydrogen and ammonia production plant, with the Good Earth Green Hydrogen and Ammonia project marking what state officials describe as a significant step toward energy and agricultural supply chain sovereignty for regional communities.

Project Overview and Location

The Good Earth Green Hydrogen and Ammonia project, known as GEGHA, is being built near Moree in northern NSW. The facility is jointly led by New Zealand-based Hiringa Energy and the Moree-based Sundown Pastoral Company and is expected to be operational by 2027. Construction began on 15 May 2026.

The plant is designed to produce up to 4,500 tonnes of low-carbon ammonia per year and more than 200 tonnes of green hydrogen annually. The ammonia output is intended to replace imported, fossil fuel-based fertilizers, while the hydrogen will be used to reduce diesel consumption in irrigation pumping, on-farm, and in heavy-vehicle refueling.

Agricultural Focus and Primary Customer

The primary recipient of the plant's ammonia-derived green fertilizer will be Sundown Pastoral Company's Keytah Farm, a 65,000-acre sustainable cotton and cropping operation in the Gwydir Region, described as one of the largest of its kind in that area. Additional agricultural properties across the New England region are also expected to receive supplies from the facility.

The project has been framed around addressing the vulnerabilities that regional farming operations face when relying on imported inputs. Sundown Pastoral Company Owner David Statham pointed directly to recent disruptions as justification for the investment.

"Recent fuel and fertilizer supply pressures have highlighted how exposed regional industries remain to volatile international markets, reinforcing the need for greater local energy resilience," Statham said.

"Australia is very vulnerable when it comes to imported fuel and fertiliser. Farmers live and breathe those pressures every day. We need to find another solution to insulate regional economies that are dependent on agriculture, and this shows it's possible."

Emissions Reductions and Environmental Claims

The NSW Government states the project will remove up to 17,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions from farming activities annually. That figure is described as equivalent to taking 6,500 passenger cars off the road.

The emissions reductions are expected to come from displacing fossil fuel-based fertilizers as well as cutting diesel use in on-farm operations and heavy vehicles.

Government Funding and Policy Context

The Minns Labor Government is investing a total of USD 45.2 million in the project. That funding is being delivered through two separate programs: the NSW Hydrogen Hubs Initiative and the Net Zero Manufacturing Initiative.

The government has described the project as part of a broader effort to build domestic manufacturing capacity and develop energy security through sovereign supply chains.

Jobs and Economic Impact

The NSW Government states the project will create 93 local jobs across construction and ongoing operations. Beyond direct employment, the project has been positioned as a model for broader economic development in regional NSW, with officials describing it as scalable and repeatable, and capable of being rolled out across other regional locations to support domestic manufacturing and energy independence.

Hiringa Energy's Role and Industry Partnerships

Hiringa Energy, a New Zealand company, is co-leading the project alongside Sundown Pastoral Company. The company's Co-founder and CEO, Andrew Clennett, highlighted the collaborative nature of the development, citing the NSW Government and NAB among key partners.

"We are delighted to be able to begin construction of the unique hydrogen and ammonia elements of this project, which has so much potential for the regional NSW farming community," Clennett said.

"In particular, GEGHA is testament to the power of the relationships we have across project partners, especially Sundown, the NSW Government, and NAB. I'm very proud of Hiringa's record of delivering leading green hydrogen and renewable projects, but that doesn't happen without strong collaboration across many parties."

Scalability and the Broader NSW Hydrogen Strategy

State officials have emphasized that GEGHA is not intended as a standalone demonstration project but rather as a blueprint for replication. The NSW Government has described the project as representing a model that could be expanded across regional NSW to increase domestic manufacturing capability and improve energy security in sectors dependent on imported fuels and fertilizers.

The plant's construction arrives as part of the NSW Hydrogen Hubs Initiative, a program through which the state government is channeling investment into hydrogen infrastructure with the stated aims of cutting emissions, building local industry, and reducing dependence on internationally sourced fossil fuel products.

Australia's Hydrogen Economy Is Moving Fast. Is Your Pipeline Intelligence Keeping Up?

Across Australia, hydrogen projects are advancing at a pace that leaves little room for missed signals. From green hydrogen production facilities in Australia to fuel cell infrastructure corridors in Japan and South Korea, the window to position your organization ahead of key procurement and development milestones is narrowing with every quarter.

Staying competitive in this market means more than reading headlines. It means knowing which projects are entering tender phases, which contracts have already been awarded to rivals, and which facilities are quietly moving through construction toward completion, before that intelligence becomes common knowledge.

The Global Project Tracking (GPT) platform by Blackridge Research gives hydrogen industry professionals a single, structured view of the entire Australian project lifecycle, covering every stage from early planning through to delivery.

• Upcoming Projects

• Tender Notices

• Contract Awards

• Projects Under Construction

• Completed Projects

If your team is making strategic decisions about the Australian hydrogen sector, the GPT platform belongs in your workflow. Book a Free Demo with Blackridge Research today and see the full depth of project coverage available to you.