Western Australia announces $61 million to support hydrogen industry
The funding will support work to grow a local hydrogen industry and deliver economic benefits to Western Australia.
Western Australian government will invest an additional A$ 61.5 million (US$ 45.4 million) to support the region’s growing renewable hydrogen industry and move towards a low-carbon future.
The $61.5 million initiative is expected to attract investment, create jobs, grow a local hydrogen production industry and drive local demand for hydrogen.
Around A$ 50 million funds will be used to support local demand for green hydrogen in the transport and industrial sectors.
A$ 7.5 million will be used to develop and upgrade infrastructure at the Oakajee Strategic Industrial Area (SIA) to establish a major renewable hydrogen hub in the Mid-West. Whereas A$ 4 million will be spent on developing the plan for the activation of Oakajee and additional infrastructure requirements and support the Renewable Hydrogen Unit within the Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation.
The new funding commitment comes as the WA government issues a A$ 900k investment for three industry-led feasibility studies into renewable hydrogen projects across the state. These were supported by the existing A$ 15 million Renewable Hydrogen Fund. BP Australia will receive $300k to progress their Kwinana Clean Fuels Hub proposal; APA gets $300k to study the conversion of the Parmelia gas pipeline into a 100% hydrogen pipeline; Global Energy Ventures will receive $300k to evaluate the technical and commercial feasibility of exporting green hydrogen to the Asia-Pacific from the Gascoyne utilising a compressed hydrogen shipping solution.
Premier Mark McGowan said, “Hydrogen offers incredible potential for our State, with the capacity to sit alongside iron ore or LNG as a major export commodity – supporting local jobs and delivering wealth for all Western Australians.”
Alannah MacTiernan, Hydrogen Industry Minister, said, “This $61.5 million commitment will supercharge our renewable hydrogen industry, helping to stimulate local demand for hydrogen to get production projects get off the ground.”
Kwinana MLA Roger Cook said, “Renewable hydrogen will play an important role in our energy mix as we move to a lower-carbon future.”
