Australia backs world-leading clean hydrogen projects
The Morrison Government has approved three large-scale hydrogen plants in Western Australia and Victoria which will be among the biggest in the world.
The government through the Australian Renewable Energy Agency’s (ARENA) Renewable Hydrogen Deployment Funding Round has awarded three companies more than $100 million of conditional funding.
Out of all the applications sent, the three companies selected are:
- Engie Renewables Australia Pty Ltd (Engie) – up to $42.5 million towards a 10 megawatt (MW) electrolyser project to produce renewable hydrogen in Yara Pilbara Fertiliser’s existing ammonia facility in Karratha, Western Australia;
- ATCO Australia Pty Ltd (ATCO) – up to $28.7 million towards a 10 MW electrolyser for gas blending at ATCO’s Clean Energy Innovation Park in Warradarge, Western Australia; and
- Australian Gas Networks Limited (AGIG) – up to $32.1 million towards a 10 MW electrolyser for gas blending at AGIG’s Murray Valley Hydrogen Park in Wodonga, Victoria.
The government is committed to building a clean and competitive hydrogen industry in Australia and believes these projects are a huge step towards the country cementing it’s place as a world leader.
Engie’s project will see renewable hydrogen used to produce ammonia for export in the Pilbara, while ATCO and AGIG’s projects will use renewable energy to produce hydrogen for gas blending into the existing natural gas pipelines. The natural gas network will be key to delivering hydrogen directly into the homes of millions of Australians in the future.
The projects are expected to create more than 210 jobs during construction, with the National Hydrogen Strategy forecasting that an Australian hydrogen industry could generate about 8,000 jobs and $11 billion a year in GDP by 2050.
The Government’s funding of up to $103.3 million will help deliver three 10MW electrolysers – among the largest ever built in the world – with a total project value of $161 million.
As part of the 2021-22 Budget, the Government will invest a further $539.2 million for the development of four additional hydrogen hubs and support for carbon capture, use and storage projects.
Source: Link
Date of Publication: 05 May 2021
