The interest in, and prospects for, a green hydrogen industry is rapidly growing, driven by global decarbonisation efforts and Australia’s commitment to net zero by 2050. Gladstone, which was identified as a key potential hydrogen hub in Queensland, required a reliable, climate-independent water supply. This prompted the Department of Regional Development, Manufacturing and Water (RDMW) to explore desalination as a long-term water solution for hydrogen production. The Gladstone Desalination for Hydrogen project aimed to assess the feasibility of a desalination plant in Gladstone to provide a sustainable water source post-2030, ensuring supply meets future hydrogen industry demands while minimising environmental impacts.

NCC was engaged to as the economic and financial advisors for the business case for the proposed desalination for hydrogen project in Gladstone. This involved confirming the service need through detailed economic analysis and Investment Logic Mapping (ILM), assessing projected demands through a mixed-methods approach, and developing a robust economic and financial analysis model to assess the feasibility of options.

The outputs from this project fed into a broader business case report that sets a robust, well-informed foundation for further consideration of desalination in the Gladstone region.