Energy consultancy Xodus Group has been awarded a contract by Infinite Blue Energy (IBE) Group to carry out initial work on Australia’s first, large-scale green hydrogen plant.

Xodus confirmed it had been selected by IBE Group to carry out initial phase one work on the A$300 million (US$218.8 million) Arrowsmith hydrogen project.

This will see the company deliver a preliminary environmental impact assessment and environmental impact identification for the planned 25-tonne-per-day green hydrogen project, while it will also provide ad hoc environmental support, including stakeholder consultation.

“IBE Group is at the forefront of green energy in Australia and having worked with the senior team on previous projects, we are excited to be supporting them again with our energy experience and expertise,” Xodus principal environmental consultant, Naomi Kerp, said.

“Projects like this can help establish Australia as a global leader in the production and supply of zero-emissions hydrogen fuel so it’s fantastic for us to be part of it from the very beginning.”

The Arrowsmith project will be built in Dongara, about 320 kilometres north of the West Australian capital of Perth, and will be the first large-scale plant in the country to produce zero carbon hydrogen using solar and wind energy.

The plant will be supplied by around 85 megawatts of solar power, supplemented by 75 megawatts of wind generation capacity, while the development will also integrate a large-scale battery on-site.

IBE has previously indicated it estimates hydrogen production from the facility will commence in the fourth quarter of 2022.