Download the full submission PDF.
The Australian Hydrogen Council (AHC) is the peak body for the hydrogen industry, with over 100
members from across the hydrogen value chain. Our members are at the forefront of Australia’s
hydrogen industry, developing the technology, skills and partnerships necessary to ensure that
hydrogen plays a meaningful role in decarbonising Australian industry.
AHC welcomes the opportunity to engage with the design of the Hydrogen Headstart program, and
to respond to the consultation paper.
Earlier this year, the AHC prepared a discussion paper with a number of policy recommendations for
the Australian government as it crafted its response to the investment challenges posed by the US
Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). In this document, we called for the Australian government to allocate
funding support for at scale production of hydrogen and we are delighted that the May 2023 budget
included the $2B allocation for the Hydrogen Headstart program.
Throughout the consultation, as well as in the public consultation sessions, DCCEEW and ARENA
have emphasised that this consultation paper is iterative and that the feedback (written as well as
through one-on-one meetings with individual companies) will be used to inform the thinking of
policy makers developing the funding mechanism and guidelines.
The AHC is supportive of this approach. The process to develop this first iteration of the support
package and initial $2B tranche of funding is critical. The AHC is hopeful that the process will result in
the establishment of robust guidelines that can be rapidly scaled up and rolled out with any
additional funding announcements.
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