Australia and Germany have introduced funding for 3 important inexperienced hydrogen tasks, together with two that signify the primary stage of what may very well be gigawatt scale tasks in Queensland and NSW.
The funding is a part of a complete $100 million in grants made by a joint Austraian-German initiative to advertise inexperienced fuels, together with a “world first” photo voltaic methanol plant that may faucet into the nation’s first main photo voltaic thermal venture in Port Augusta, South Australia.
See: “World first” solar methanol plant to feed off Port Augusta solar thermal project
The 2 gigawatt scale inexperienced hydrogen tasks are being proposed for Townsville in north Queensland by a consortium led by Edify Vitality and Siemens, and within the Illawarra in NSW by Atco.
Edify Vitality and Siemens will obtain greater than $A40 million from the 2 governments – in Australia’s case through the Australian Renewable Vitality Company – to construct a 17.5MW electrolyser and 21MW of built-in behind the meter photo voltaic PV to supply renewable hydrogen.
The hydrogen might be used for home industrial and transport functions, and Edify says it’s the first stage of a deliberate 1GW inexperienced hydrogen manufacturing facility that may even embody inexperienced hydrogen exports.
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It’s negotiating the primary off take agreements.
“Australia’s place on the world stage as a number one supplier of inexperienced hydrogen is taking form and we stay up for doing what we do greatest – delivering the financial, environmental and social advantages of inexperienced hydrogen to communities of Northern Queensland and the world,” Edify CEO John Cole mentioned in a press release.
The venture is a part of the North Queensland Hydrogen Consortium. It’s not clear from the assertion, however the funded venture may very well be linked to the green hydrogen plans previously announced by Edify Energy at the Landsdown industrial park near Townsville. RenewEconomy has sought clarification.
The Atco venture, referred to as ScaleH2, is step one to a different deliberate gigawatt scale electrolyser venture and 800,000 tonne per yr inexperienced ammonia facility within the Illawarra, in NSW.
“ATCO has set its sights on exports to international markets and the ScaleH2 venture will additional advance our ambitions to develop our capabilities as a hydrogen chief in Australia and the globe,” mentioned Karen Nielsen, the top of world renewables at ATCO.
“The ScaleH2 venture, with our companions, will speed up understanding throughout business of hydrogen’s financial potential in the direction of a clear power future.”
Australia hydrogen start-up Hysata has additionally obtained round $18 million to assist the event of the corporate’s “capillary-fed” electrolyser know-how that the corporate claims will ship probably the most environment friendly electrolyser on the planet.
It claims 95% system effectivity, a “big leap” in efficiency and value over incumbent applied sciences, which usually function at 75% or much less.
“Australia has a once-in-a-generation alternative to be a world chief in inexperienced hydrogen and we’re delighted to see the Authorities backing Australian innovators,” CEO Paul Barrett mentioned in a press release.
“Our know-how will improve sovereign manufacturing capabilities, create excessive expert jobs and place Australia as a inexperienced hydrogen powerhouse by offering electrolysers for home tasks and exports.”
Australian power minister Chris Bowen met with German financial system minister Robert Habeck and schooling minister Bettina Stark-Watzinger in Berlin, the place the 4 joint tasks had been introduced below the German–Australian Hydrogen Innovation and Expertise Incubator (HyGATE) initiative.
In keeping with Clear Vitality Wire, the governments additionally launched a joint summary report on the German-Australian Hydrogen Feasibility Study, which mentioned a lot nonetheless must be finished to ascertain a renewable hydrogen provide chain.
“My objective is that the primary supply will arrive in Germany by 2030 on the newest,” mentioned Stark-Watzinger.
“These tasks display Australia’s position as a world chief in renewable power manufacturing, lowering the price of hydrogen manufacturing and paving the way in which for exports,” Bowen mentioned of the tasks.
Giles Parkinson is founder and editor of Renew Economy, and can also be the founding father of One Step Off The Grid and founder/editor of the EV-focused The Driven. Giles has been a journalist for 40 years and is a former enterprise and deputy editor of the Australian Monetary Assessment.
