Construction starts at New South Wales’ first green energy fertiliser plant at Moree

Mayor of the Moree Plains Shire, Councillor Susannah Pearse, Minister for Energy Penny Sharpe, Hiringa Energy co-founders, CEO Andrew Clennett and chair Cathy Clennett, and Sundown Pastoral Company co-owner David Statham officially turn the first sods at the GEGHA project hydrogen and ammonia plant.

Hiringa Energy and Sundown Pastoral Company today welcomed a key construction milestone of NSW’s first large scale green hydrogen and ammonia production facility. Construction of the green hydrogen and ammonia plant at the Good Earth Green Hydrogen and Ammonia (GEGHA) project is underway.

The GEGHA Project is a joint venture between New Zealand’s Hiringa Energy and local Sundown Pastoral Company, who have supported the project to be developed adjacent to the Wathagar Gin, just west of Moree. The NSW Government has invested $45.2 million, including through the Hydrogen Hub initiative and the Net Zero Manufacturing Initiative.

At full operation, the production facility is expected to use around 36MW of solar power and can produce up to 2,200 tonnes of green hydrogen each year. This will support the manufacture of up to 4,500 tonnes of low-carbon ammonia annually, with approximately 220 tonnes of hydrogen available for direct use. The project is forecast to abate up to 17,000 tonnes of CO₂ each year — equivalent to removing 6,500 passenger vehicles from NSW roads or planting around half a million trees.

Chief Executive Officer of Hiringa Energy Andrew Clennett, says the decision to partner with Sundown Pastoral Company and the New South Wales government was a unique opportunity to bring Hiringa’s expertise of creating green hydrogen projects in New Zealand to Australia, and expand the company’s Asia Pacific partnership strategy.

“We are delighted to be able to begin construction of the unique elements of this project, which has so much potential for the regional NSW farming community.

“In particular, this 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. It takes a village to make these projects work, and we’re fortunate to share the same bold vision with our GEGHA partners.”

Sundown Pastoral Company Co-owner David Statham said recent fuel and fertiliser supply pressures had highlighted how exposed regional industries remain to volatile international markets, reinforcing the need for greater local energy resilience.

“Australia is very vulnerable when it comes to imported fuel and fertiliser. Farmers live and breathe those pressures every day at the moment, and consumers are seeing it in the supermarket aisles with the price of their food through this crisis. We need to find another solution, to insulate regional economies who are dependent on agriculture, and this shows it’s possible.”

Minister for Climate Change, Energy and Environment, Penny Sharpe said, “The start of construction on GEGHA marks a major milestone for hydrogen capacity building in NSW, showing how clean energy investment can deliver real benefits for regional communities, industry and farmers.

“The current fuel shock shows why projects like this are so important – they help make farming supply chains more reliable by reducing our need for imported fertilisers.”

About the GEGHA Project

The Good Earth Green Hydrogen and Ammonia (GEGHA) Project is a joint venture between Hiringa Energy and Sundown Pastoral Company, delivered by the Hiringa Sundown Project Trust.

Located at the 'Keytah' agricultural property - 33km south-west of Moree, NSW - the project uses 36MW of solar generation, a 41MWh battery energy storage system, a 15MW electrolyser and a 16-tonne-per-day ammonia plant to produce up to 2,200 tonnes of green

hydrogen annually - of which approximately 220 tonnes is available for direct use, with the balance used to manufacture up to 4,500 tonnes of low-carbon ammonia.

The NSW Government has invested $45.2 million in the project - $35 million through the Hydrogen Hub Initiative (awarded under the previous NSW Government) and $9 million through the Net Zero Manufacturing Initiative (awarded by the Minns Government).

Development approval was granted in February 2026 and the facility is expected to be operational in early 2027. At full capacity, GEGHA will abate up to 17,000 tonnes of CO2-equivalent per year - equivalent to taking 6,500 passenger cars off the road.