Australian Hydrogen Council

Big news from WA today with Minister for Climate Change and Energy Hon?Chris Bowen MP announcing the first recipient of Hydrogen Headstart funding in Australia??? ? Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners'?Murchison Green Hydrogen?project near Kalbarri in Mid-West Western Australia will receive $814m in Hydrogen Headstart funding. The project will feature an onshore wind and solar farm, desalination plant and 1.5GW green hydrogen production facility. The green hydrogen will support the production of approximately 900,000 tonnes of green ammonia per year. Hydrogen Headstart is a critical funding program for large scale hydrogen projects. We are thrilled to see this announcement and look forward to further updates on round one recipients, as well as the progression of the second round. ? Read AHC's media statement here: https://lnkd.in/g_ywWhi2 ? #H2au Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water?Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA)?Australian Government

Thank you to our members who joined us for AHC's quarterly member meeting yesterday! Thank you to Scott Wyatt from the Delegation of the European Union to Australia for sharing valuable insights on how the EU intends to utilise hydrogen to reach net zero and the evolving policy landscape. Members also heard from Drew Sage from KBR, Inc. who shared updates and learnings on completed hydrogen projects. It was also great to hear from Joel Smouha from Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade) on what is planned for the Australian delegation to the World Hydrogen Summit & Exhibition being held in Rotterdam in a few months time. Having opened just 10 days ago, it was wonderful to hear from Irene Penesis from Blue Economy CRC on Tasmania's first green hydrogen production and research facility. We then heard from Katherine Halliday, MBA and Ronald Green from the Tasmanian Government who provided an update on key activities across the state - we look forward to seeing the roll out of Metro H2 Buses later this year! Members were also fortunate to hear from Simon Papagiorcopulo from ANZ for a brief update on hydrogen in the context of the current geopolitical landscape. Finally, we heard from Scott Trevean at DNV on the future of low carbon fuels in the maritime sector. Simon List from the Australian Embassy, Seoul on the clean energy landscape in Korea and how Australian hydrogen will play a significant role in the country meeting their own Net Zero targets. We were also grateful for the update provided by Sam Crafter PSM, CEO at the Office of Hydrogen Power South Australia. We also heard updates from members Jorge Martin Gistau from Ricardo plc, Laurent Van Helden from Plug Power, JIGNESHKUMAR PATEL from ProDetec and Andrew Doerflinger, PE from Black & Veatch. Great build up for our AHC members-only Future Fuels & Derivatives Mini-Conference that is currently underway! #H2Au

Big week ahead for Australian Hydrogen Council, kicking off with our quarterly member meeting and networking event in Melbourne today! ? There is plenty to unpack from the first few months of 2025 – and these member meetings are a great opportunity to learn from key partners, government, industry and stakeholders, and to network with fellow members. ? Tomorrow we will host AHC's Member-Only Future Fuels & Derivatives Mini-Conference – big agenda, diving into important topics like shipping, aviation, finance, policy, regional development, and refuelling infrastructure. Expect thought-provoking keynotes, dynamic panels, and interactive discussions covering everything from ammonia and methanol to sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), bankability, and the total cost of ownership. ? On Wednesday, our team will be at the Climate Investor Forum 2025 in Melbourne – ahead of some more industry events later on this week. ? We look forward to sharing more updates as the week progresses, and connecting with our members very soon! ? Fiona Simon, Leigh Kennedy, Katerina Aleksoska, Natasha Cerexhe, Keira Dinsdale-Facci ? #H2Au

Exciting milestone for AHC Member sparc TECHNOLOGIES (ASX:SPN) this week with construction commencing on a pilot plant that will employ its photocatalytic water splitting (PWS) technology that produces hydrogen directly from water using only sunlight and a photocatalyst material. The facility is expected to be commissioned by mid-2025 and will allow independent testing of different reactor designs and photocatalyst materials under real-world conditions. Sparc secured its first patent for the reactor technology earlier this year. The pilot plant project is a joint venture between Sparc Technologies, AHC Member Fortescue and the University of Adelaide. It will be located at the University of Adelaide's Roseworthy Campus. #H2au Nick O'Loughlin

The Australian Government has today announced $750m from the $1.7bn Future Made in Australia Innovation Fund to support new low emissions technologies for metal manufacturers. The FMIA Innovation Fund has now been largely allocated adding to earlier announcements of $500m to support clean energy technology manufacturing and $250m to support low carbon liquid fuels. $200m is yet to be allocated. The Fund will support the development of cutting-edge new technologies, as well as funding pilot and demonstration projects, that can lower emissions, improve productivity and revitalise plant and equipment. AHC CEO Fiona Simon said: "It is positive to see the Australian Government recognise these opportunities and the need to back Australian industry and innovation in a globally competitive market, while also strengthening sovereign capability and harnessing our comparative advantages amidst higher trade policy uncertainty.” Read our media statement here: https://lnkd.in/ghFrDbQ6 #h2au Ed Husic MP Anthony Albanese Chris Bowen Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water Department of Industry, Science and Resources Curtin University

Good news for the progression of the Port Augusta Green Energy Hub in South Australia with Vast securing $180m of conditional funding from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) for construction of its Port Augusta utility-scale clean energy project (VS1). ? VS1 has an option to power a world-first co-located green methanol production facility, Solar Methanol 1 (SM1), which is being developed by Vast in partnership with global energy company, Mabanaft. ? Green methanol has the potential to decarbonise shipping and is already being used to power major container vessels. ? Vast’s South Australian projects will lay the foundations for the planned rollout of its global pipeline of clean energy projects and will contribute to powering the production of green methanol and sustainable aviation fuels.? ? Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gM8sVt7j #h2au

Applications are closing soon for the CSIRO's Innovate to Grow - Queensland. ? Starting on 10 April 2025,?the?8-week program offers flexible, self-paced learning designed to help?participants?refine?their?innovation and research capabilities.? ? This program will?help refine?research questions?and align technology goals.?Participants will?learn how to develop a compelling value proposition, business case, and funding proposal?– as well as?how to collaborate effectively with the research sector to drive successful R&D projects. Throughout the program,?participants will be able to?expand their network by?connecting?with experts and peers in?their?field. ? Join over 650 businesses across Australia who have already benefited from this program to advance their innovations. ? This program is supported by the Regional University Industry Collaboration Program (RUIC), funded by the Queensland Government and delivered by CSIRO. ? Applications close on Sunday, 16 March 2025. For more information and to apply, visit?https://lnkd.in/eaFdXCMk #H2Au

Last week, the Blue Economy CRC Hydrogen Production & Research Facility officially opened Tasmania’s first green hydrogen production facility. ? Located at BOC South Pacific’s Lutana site in Hobart, the facility is supporting blue economy industries like aquaculture and maritime transport. It features a highly innovative DC hydrogen microgrid controlling one of Australia’s largest electrolysers, producing 100% renewable, green hydrogen via electrolysis. ? Developed by the Blue Economy CRC in partnership with AHC Member BOC South Pacific, Optimal Group Australia. All, pitt&sherry, the Tasmanian Government, Griffith University, and the University of Tasmania, this facility will drive cutting-edge research and training while providing commercial-scale hydrogen for industry and transport applications. Find out more here:?https://lnkd.in/exe32EJi ? #H2Au Image Credit: Blue Economy CRC

Over $59 million in grants from Australia's Economic Accelerator (AEA) Ignite program will support 155 research projects across 28 universities. ? 7 grant recipients that have received a combined $2.4 million in?funding are hydrogen research projects, being conducted by UNSW, University of Technology Sydney, CQUniversity, The University of Adelaide College, RMIT University, Curtin University and The University of Western Australia. Congratulations?to all recipients. ? Read the full announcement here:?https://lnkd.in/gCzUTzZZ #H2Au

I had a short piece in the Australian today, but am publishing here an extended version. In summary, do not read the recent reports on the hydrogen industry and assume the industry is fundamentally in peril. Yes, it's difficult, but that does not mean that we should not develop the industry. Have a good weekend all, and stay safe wherever you are.