Hiringa Energy, Sundown Pastoral Company, and the NSW Government have reached financial close on their Good Earth Green Hydrogen and Ammonia (GEGHA) project.
The GEGHA project is an integrated solar energy to low-carbon hydrogen and ammonia operation. Once complete, the plant will be located adjacent to Sundown’s Joint Venture Wathagar cotton ginning facility, near Moree in NSW.
GEGHA will produce up to 4,500 tonnes of low-carbon ammonia annually, displacing high-carbon fossil fuel-based nitrogen fertilisers and removing up to 17,000 tonnes of CO₂-equivalent emissions each year.
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GEGHA fertiliser will be consumed by Sundown to support production of its positive net-zero, traceable Good Earth Cotton, with excess supply also available for other regional growers.
In addition to ammonia production, the facility will supply approximately 224 tonnes of green hydrogen per annum for direct use. Green hydrogen is set to be consumed as part of Hiringa’s heavy-vehicle refuelling network, as well as on-farm to displace diesel in irrigation pumping, further decarbonising the agricultural supply chain from paddock-to-port.
“Getting the green light for green fertiliser production isn’t just about producing low-carbon ammonia,” Hiringa co-founder and CEO Andrew Clennett said.
“It’s a model for overcoming the obstacles that have held back the establishment of these new green industries. By strategically partnering with Sundown Pastoral Co, we’re anchoring demand with supply to meet the immediate needs of the agricultural sector.”
GEGHA will offer East Coast Australia’s first green fertiliser supply, delivering regional producers with competitive, stable pricing for their fuels and feedstocks.
The plant will use renewable energy to generate hydrogen via electrolysis, which will then be used to make ammonia fertiliser with negligible CO₂ emissions.
Conversely, ammonia used in traditional fertilisers is made with natural gas or coal, resulting in high carbon emissions. The current fertiliser supply chain is also highly import-dependent and is therefore subject to global disruption and volatility.
Sundown Pastoral Company owner David Statham said, “Agriculture is always adapting—as farmers we have adapted for generations. We have been measuring our emissions and reductions for the past five years. There is an increasing demand for fibres that demonstrate a lower footprint and the GEGHA project allows us to further control the reduction of our emissions.”
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By using GEGHA-produced ammonia, farmers can improve their environmental practices, plan sustainability for growing seasons and improve sustainability credentials to meet growing consumer demand for lower carbon products.
“The GEGHA project demonstrates how low-carbon ammonia can be integrated into regional farming through a scalable, cost-effective model. As both a template and a catalyst GEGHA paves the way for decentralised fertiliser production across NSW’s agricultural valleys—cutting emissions, meeting demand, and driving a more resilient regional economy,” Clennett said.
Construction work on GEGHA is scheduled to begin in October, with the facility expected to be fully operational in early 2027.
