South Australian taxpayers will fork out more than $250 million on generators for the scrapped Whyalla hydrogen plant — but the state government says it is confident it will recoup the money through a competitive sale process.

A report by the state's auditor-general last week showed the government spent $285.2 million on hydrogen over the past three years , and another $125 million will be paid out this financial year.

The Energy and Mining Department also disclosed an $87.4 million "contingent liability", which the government could be forced to pay for electricity infrastructure around Whyalla.

At a parliamentary committee hearing on Monday, the opposition seized on the figures as evidence "South Australian taxpayers may be up for $500 million and no hydrogen plant to show for it".

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