Plug Power Inc. (NASDAQ: PLUG) has secured a 50-megawatt electrolyzer order for the Hunter Valley Hydrogen Hub (HVHH) in Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia, after the project reached final investment decision (FID), according to a company press release.

The project is being developed by Orica, a mining and infrastructure solutions provider operating in more than 100 countries. Located adjacent to Orica's existing ammonia manufacturing facility on Kooragang Island, the hub will use renewable electricity to produce hydrogen via electrolysis, with the goal of progressively replacing natural gas in Orica's production of ammonia and ammonium nitrate.

At full capacity, the facility is expected to produce approximately 4,700 tonnes of renewable hydrogen per year, displacing around 7.5% of Orica's natural gas consumption at the site.

The HVHH is described as the largest renewable hydrogen project in Australia to reach FID and the first recipient of Australia's Hydrogen Headstart program to enter the execution phase. The program, administered through the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), awarded AU$432 million in production credits to support the project.

Plug will supply its GenEco Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) electrolyzers for the project. "Being selected as the electrolyzer OEM for the country's largest renewable hydrogen project to reach FID, and the first Hydrogen Headstart project to move into the execution phase, reflects the confidence our customers place in Plug's technology," said José Luis Crespo, Plug's CEO.

Germán Morales, Orica Group President for AusPac and Sustainability, cited Plug's "proven track record in delivering large-scale PEM systems" as a factor in the selection.

Plug states it has more than 320 MW of GenEco electrolyzer systems deployed across six continents, including prior installations in Townsville and Chinchilla, Queensland, Australia.