Southern Green Hydrogen wants the detailed proposals to land by August and aims to select a candidate shortly afterwards.

Meridian Energy chief executive Neal Barclay said the initial proposals from Fortescue and Woodside have both clarified that large-scale production and export of green hydrogen or green ammonia from the southern tip of the country is technically feasible and commercially sound.

“This is a complex project in a relatively new global market,” Barclay said.

“Both have demonstrated that global markets for green hydrogen and green ammonia are imminent,and both are engaged in discussions with customers about buying the large volumes that the Southland plant will produce.”

Fortescue Future Industries director Felicity Underhill said green hydrogen would help New Zealand decarbonise its own industry and transport sector. FFI is also investigating a green hydrogen project on the site of an oil refinery in New Zealand’s North Island.

Woodside and Fortescue are also chasing hydropowered green energy projects in Tasmania. Progress there has been slowed by Hydro Tasmania only offering to firm up wind power rather than fully power a green hydrogen plant.

Both companies are under pressure to make progress on hydrogen:Forrest to demonstrate real progress to match his often-articulated vision and Woodside needs to show it is more than a gas company while it continues to face opposition to its flagship $7 billion Scarborough gas project.

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