Canberra, Australia: The Australian Hydrogen Council (AHC), industry, government and diplomatic representatives gathered in Canberra last week for the second Australian Parliamentary Friends of Hydrogen meeting, co-chaired by Member for Hunter, Dan Repacholi MP and Member for Mallee, Dr Anne Webster MP.
The 2024/25 Federal Budget announced significant support for the hydrogen and derivatives industries. Minister for Climate Change and Energy, the Hon Chris Bowen MP, took the opportunity to address AHC members and reinforce the Australian Government’s commitment to key policies such as the Future Made in Australia, Hydrogen Headstart and Hydrogen Production Tax Credit.
Minister Bowen said consultation was key to the progression of these policies, and encouraged industry to participate in what he said would be a short and sharp consultation process, including the Hydrogen Production Tax Credit consultation paper which was released on Friday and has a two-week submission process.
Dr Fiona Simon, CEO of the Australian Hydrogen Council said she was pleased that Australia was starting to prioritise uses for hydrogen, however stressed the importance of the Federal Government progressing its recent budget measures quickly.
“The strong industry turnout at our Parliamentary Friends of Hydrogen meeting was a positive signal to the Government and friends of Parliament that the hydrogen industry is serious about achieving policy certainty with projects underway that rely on government support.
“Incentives such as Hydrogen Production Tax Credit and Hydrogen Headstart are absolutely vital. The public interest is in decarbonisation, and without very strong economy-wide price signals to value carbon – and even with them – we need to look at incentives from government to help bridge the gap and get major projects over the line for the 2030s and 2040s.”
The meeting also included a technology showcase headlined by four hydrogen fuel cell vehicles – Hyzon Refuse Truck, Hyundai NEXO, Toyota Mirai and a BMW iX5 – demonstrating one of the end use applications for hydrogen. It also included a showcase of technology from Energys (fuel cell), ENEOS (direct MCH production), Innomotics (motors and drives), Star Scientific (catalyst), Toyota (hydrogen generators and vehicles) and CarbonNet (CCS). Xodus and Coregas also showcased their projects.
Leigh Kennedy, General Manager Supply Chain and Industry Development for the Australian Hydrogen Council, said the pipeline of technologies under development demonstrates Australia’s capabilities across the hydrogen value chain.
“The recent budget announced $1.7B in funding for ARENA to establish a manufacturing innovation fund. This funding will work alongside the $3B earmarked under the National Reconstruction Fund for clean technologies – in effect, creating a pipeline of funding for the pipeline of technologies as they commercialise.
“Through our work with the Australian Government’s Industry Growth Program, and our ongoing support to members, AHC looks forward to growing Australia’s hydrogen equipment, technology and services sector by supporting development of new technologies and enabling SMEs to transition from existing industries into hydrogen.”
The meeting also welcomed strategic stakeholders from Australian Government agencies – ARENA, DCCEEW, DFAT, DISR, DITRDCA and the Embassies of Japan, Republic of Korea and Republic of Germany with special guest His Excellency Mr Kazuhiro Suzuki, Japanese Ambassador to Australia contributing valuable insights.
AHC’s focus now turns to critical industry consultations on the Hydrogen Production Tax Incentive, green metals, low carbon fuels, and broader transport decarbonisation whilst continuing to foster Australia’s trading relationships with Japan and Korea.
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