The widespread use of hydrogen in the economy was envisaged by
some researchers as early as the 1970s.[2]
By 1994, hydrogen was not yet seen as a viable fuel in Australia, with the view
being that hydrogen technology ‘will not be practical for another decade or
two’.[3]
Interest in hydrogen before this time was mostly limited to a relatively small
number of academic studies. A 2018 investigation of published hydrogen research
found that the global growth of this research field ignited with the Kyoto
Protocol of 1997.[4]
This timing also coincided with an increased focus on
hydrogen in Australia, with the CSIRO
announcing plans in 1999 to build a world-class sustainable energy research and
demonstration centre, which included hydrogen power.[5]
With advancements in technology and the recognised need for alternative fuels,
the post-Kyoto expansion of hydrogen research has seen the vast majority (more
than 90%) of hydrogen publications produced globally in the last 2½ decades.[6]
As a highly versatile fuel, hydrogen is often portrayed as
‘a key pillar of decarbonisation for industry’.[7]
It is forecast to play an important role in decarbonising heavy-duty road
transport, aviation and shipping, and providing flexibility in the power sector,
although some analyses see hydrogen playing less of a major role in some
sectors.[8]
Global demand for hydrogen in 2021 was relatively modest
(around 94 million tonnes), which contained energy equivalent to around
2.5% of global final energy consumption.[9]
The International Energy Agency (IEA) expects hydrogen demand may reach
115 million tonnes by 2030, based on existing policies and measures.[10]
As of September 2022, a total of 25 countries had released
hydrogen strategies (an increase from 17 countries in 2021) and over 20 more had
publicly announced they are developing hydrogen strategies.[11]
This includes Australia’s National
hydrogen strategy which foresees a role for hydrogen in the economy
that is close to the expansive vision expressed half a century ago –involving
the electricity sector, powering heavy transport such as shipping and rail, and
enabling industry to revolutionise activities such as iron ore processing and
aluminium production.
This chronology documents key events and progress towards
the development of Australia’s hydrogen industry from 2000 to 2021. As a
chronology, it is not intended to be an analysis of the development, deployment
or potential of hydrogen technologies.
|
Milestones
|
Details
|
Source documents
|
2000s
|
| 1 March 2001 |
CSIRO
presents its concept Solar-Gas Hybrid Technology at the National Science
Briefing The concept will
have applications including the production of hydrogen as a transport fuel
for fuel cell-powered vehicles. |
J. Edwards, Australia’s
Future Energy. Speakers’ Notes, National Science Briefing, 1st March
2001, [Parliament House, Canberra], speakers notes, 1 March 2001. |
| 18 October 2001 |
Howard Government
commits to invest $1 million into hydrogen research The study will
assess the potential for a hydrogen industry harnessing the tidal energy
resources of the Derby area of WA. |
N. Minchin
(Minister for Industry, Science and Resources), ‘A
Strong Future for Australia’s Resources and Energy Industries’,
media release, 18 October 2001. |
| 5 March 2002 |
Managing
Director of Woodside Energy releases World
Oil Markets and the Challenges for Australia The report finds
that, while hydrogen fuels and ceramic fuel cells have the potential to be
viable fuel substitutes, they will need a supportive R&D and investment
regime if they are to make significant in-roads into oil demand. |
J. Akehurst, World
Oil Markets and the Challenges for Australia, (Woodside Energy, March
2002), 10. |
| 22 March 2002 |
Howard Government
announces a $34 million CSIRO Energy Centre The centre is to
be constructed in Newcastle by the middle of 2003. |
P. McGauran
(Minister for Science), ‘Minister
“Flicks the Switch” on a New Era’, media release, 22 March
2002. |
| 9 July 2002 |
Australia-US
Climate Action Partnership cooperative research projects The projects
include research on stationary energy technology, hydrogen, fuel cells and
distributed energy systems. |
D. Kemp
(Minister for the Environment and Heritage), ‘Australia
and the United States Working Together on Climate Change’,
media release, 9 July 2002. |
| October 2002 |
Renewable
Energy Technology Roadmap is released The roadmap states
that ‘Hydrogen production from renewable energy sources is not currently
commercially successful, but has huge future potential. However, the
significant head start already established by foreign manufacturers means
that it is unlikely that Australia will be able to develop internationally
competitive technologies in the medium term’. |
Department of
Industry, Tourism and Resources, Renewable
Energy Technology Roadmap, (Canberra: Australian Government, October
2002), 9 [Part 1]. |
| February 2003 |
The
Hydrogen Energy Division is formed The division
is part of the Australian Institute of Energy and will promote the
responsible development of hydrogen energy. |
Australian
Institute of Energy, Background
to its History, Structure and Finances, (March 2015). |
| 25 March 2003 |
Howard Government
announces the Hydrogen Economy Challenges and Strategies for Australia
conference for May 2003 As part of its
‘$1 million commitment to exploring the long-term benefits of hydrogen’,
the conference explores hydrogen as the new fuel of mobility and the link
between Australia’s tidal power potential and hydrogen production through
electrolysis. |
I. Macfarlane
(Minister for Industry, Tourism and Resources), ‘The
Hydrogen Economy’, media release, 25 March 2003. |
| 18–21 May 2003 |
Howard Government
institutes a major international conference, The Hydrogen Economy: Challenges
and Strategies for Australia Including the Tidal Energy Link The conference
is held in Broome, WA and explores the future of hydrogen as an important
potential energy carrier for Australia and identifies Australia’s
opportunities to contribute to world hydrogen developments. |
Department of
Industry, Tourism and Resources, The
Hydrogen Economy: Challenges and Strategies for Australia Including the Tidal
Energy Link, Australian Government website, May 2003. |
| 20 May 2003 |
Howard Government
announces a grant to the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) Up to half a
million dollars will be provided to investigate the use of hydrogen in
Antarctic operations. |
D. Kemp (Federal
Minister for the Environment and Heritage), ‘Hydrogen
– New Energy Source for Antarctica’, media release, 20 May
2003. |
| 17 October 2003 |
National
Hydrogen Study is released The study assesses
the role of hydrogen in the energy system and makes recommendations on Australia’s
participation in a future hydrogen economy. |
I. Macfarlane
(Minister for Industry, Tourism and Resources), ‘Release
of National Hydrogen Study’, media release, 17 October
2003. ACIL Tasman and
Parsons Brinckerhoff, National
Hydrogen Study, (Canberra: Department of Industry, Tourism and
Resources, October 2003). |
| January 2004 |
Cooperative
Research Centre for Greenhouse Gas Technologies releases a carbon dioxide capture
and storage technology roadmap The report
defines 4 levels of technology roadmaps for Australia. The third level
addresses the ‘development of a roadmap for the hydrogen economy, stressing
in particular the key role of CO2 capture and storage, assuming that the
hydrogen economy will initially be fossil-fuel based, but with the longer
term objective of moving to renewable energy’. |
CO2CRC, Carbon
Dioxide Capture & Storage: Research Development & Demonstration in Australia:
a Technology Roadmap 2004, (Canberra: Cooperative Research Centre for
Greenhouse Gas Technologies, January 2004), 43. |
| 15 June 2004 |
Howard Government
releases a White Paper, Securing
Australia’s Energy Future The paper
acknowledges hydrogen as an alternative fuel, classifying it as a ‘reserve’
technology stating, ‘the commercial use of hydrogen is a distant prospect’
and ‘niche opportunities exist for Australia’. |
J. Howard (Prime
Minister), Address
by the Prime Minister the Hon John Howard MP to the National Press Club,
Canberra: Securing Australia’s energy future, media release, 15 June
2004. Australian
Government, Securing
Australia’s Energy Future, white paper, June 2004, 174. |
| 8 October 2004 |
Hydrogen
trial election commitments If re-elected
the Coalition commits to ‘build on the Perth trial, and invest $67 million
over three years, from 2005–06, as the Commonwealth’s contribution to the
cost of hydrogen fuel depots in Australian cities and the purchase of up to
90 hydrogen buses’. |
Liberal Party of
Australia and the Nationals, A
sustainable Australia, Coalition policy document, Election 2004, 4. |
| 26 October 2004 |
AAD receives
a grant from the Australian Greenhouse Office The half-million
dollar grant will fund the demonstration of hydrogen generated by wind in
Antarctica. |
A. Rushton, Hydrogen
Energy for Mawson, Australian Antarctic Division, 26 October 2004. |
| 22 April 2005 |
Australia
joins the Hydrogen Implementation Agreement of the International Energy
Agency The agreement
has a number of objectives, including:
- support appropriate and effective expansion of the agreement
R&D, analysis and outreach program
- promote growth in agreement membership and industry
participation
- cooperate with other international hydrogen R&D
ventures.
|
Noted in P.
Newton, eds, Transitions:
Pathways Towards Sustainable Urban Development in Australia, (Collingwood:
CSIRO Publishing, July 2008), 504. M.R. de
Valladares, IEA
Hydrogen Implementing Agreement Secretariat, 22 April 2005. |
| 4 July 2005 |
Howard
Government releases the Australian
Hydrogen Activity report It identifies
more than 120 hydrogen research projects underway in Australia. |
D. Rand and S.
Badwal, Australian
Hydrogen Activity, (Canberra: Department of Industry, Tourism and
Resources, July 2005). |
| 13 July 2006 |
Howard
Government’s hydrogen demonstration project, led by the AAD, is reported to
be beginning operation out of Mawson station in the 2006–07 summer season The project is
supported by a $750,000 grant to the AAD from the Australian Government. It
will aim to investigate safety and operational aspects of using hydrogen, with
a long-term view to running Australia’s Antarctic field camps and stations
without fossil fuels. |
Australian
Antarctic Division, ‘Hydrogen
to Power Australia’s Antarctic Field Camps’, media release, 13 July
2006. D. Parker, ‘Wind,
Sun Switch on the Isolated’, Weekend
Australian, 9 June 2007. |
| 13 April 2007 |
Council of
Australian Governments (COAG) agrees to develop a hydrogen roadmap The roadmap will
be developed with $405,000 in funding from the Australian Government. |
COAG, ‘Council
of Australian Governments’ Meeting Canberra’, communique, 13 April
2007, 5. |
| June 2007 |
Howard
Government issues a tender for the development of a national hydrogen roadmap |
Noted in P.
Newton, eds, Transitions:
Pathways Towards Sustainable Urban Development in Australia, (Collingwood:
CSIRO Publishing, July 2008), 504–505. |
| 14 November 2007 |
Hydrogen
election commitments Labor commits to
investing ‘$50 million for general clean energy research and
development, including energy efficiency, energy storage technologies and
hydrogen transport fuels’. |
Australian Labor
Party, Energy
Innovation, Australian Labor Party policy document, Election 2007. |
| March 2008 |
Australian
Academy of Science releases Towards Development
of an Australian Scientific Roadmap for the Hydrogen Economy The report
‘provides an assessment of current Australian research into hydrogen as a
future energy carrier in comparison with international research efforts.’ |
Australian
Academy of Science, Towards
Development of an Australian Scientific Roadmap for the Hydrogen Economy,
(Canberra: Australian Academy of Science, March 2008). |
| November 2008 |
Hydrogen
Technology Roadmap is released The report
finds: ‘The primary need for Australia regarding hydrogen and fuel cells – at
least in the near to medium term – is to ensure that both are actively
maintained as options for a future low-carbon economy and society’. |
Wyld Group Pty
Ltd, Hydrogen
Technology Roadmap, (Canberra: Department of Resources, Energy and
Tourism, November 2008), 2. |
| November 2008 |
Rudd Government
releases Australian Hydrogen Activity
2008 The report
complements the Hydrogen Technology Roadmap, outlining Australian
research projects related to hydrogen and fuel cells. |
A.L. Dicks, J.
Bradley and D.T. Alexander, Australian
Hydrogen Activity 2008, (Canberra: Department of Resources, Energy
and Tourism, November 2008). |
| 2009 |
Queensland
Government releases an Alternative Fuels
Sector Action Plan The plan states
that hydrogen is a likely alternative fuel to be used in the long-term. |
Department of
Tourism, Regional Development and Industry, Alternative
Fuels Sector Action Plan, (Brisbane: Queensland Government, 2009). |
2010s
|
| 12 June 2010 |
Rudd Government
announces funding for the Sir Samuel Griffith Centre at Griffith University
(Qld) The centre will
include a solar power hydrogen storage energy management system at
demonstration scale and build capacity in climate change adaption research. |
K. Carr
(Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research), ‘Rudd
Labor Invests in Queensland Students and Researchers’,
media release, 12 June 2010. |
| 15 October 2012 |
Gillard Government
commits $17.5 million over 10 years to the Energy Pipelines Cooperative
Research Centre Funding is to be
used to undertake research and education relevant to the pipeline industry in
Australia. This includes building pipeline networks to enable transmission of
hydrogen and carbon dioxide. |
M. Ferguson
(Minister for Resources and Energy), ‘Address
to the Australian Pipeline Industry Association Convention and Exhibition’,
media release, 15 October 2012. |
| 19 April 2013 |
The
Southern Cross Renewable Energy Fund provides $4.5 million towards
hydrogen storage technology The fund will enable
a new renewable energy storage solution being developed by Queensland
company, Hydrexia. |
G. Gray
(Minister for Resources and Energy), ‘Advancing
Renewable Energy Storage Options’, media release, 19 April
2013. Australian Trade
Commission, ‘UQ
hydrogen innovation wins joint investment from Government, French
multinational’, Australian Trade Commission website,
19 April 2013. |
| September 2014 |
The NSW
Energy and Resources Knowledge Hub begins operation The Hub aims to deliver
‘collaborative innovation to transform the energy and resources sector’,
which includes hydrogen projects. |
NSW Energy and
Resources Knowledge Hub, ‘About us’,
NSW Energy and Resources Knowledge Hub website. University of
Newcastle Australia, ‘Energy
Information Hub’, media release, 5 September 2014. |
| 1 April 2015 |
First fuel
cell passenger vehicle brought to Australia is unveiled The car, a
Hyundai SUV ix35, is accompanied by the installation of Australia’s first
solar powered hydrogen refuelling station at Hyundai Motor Company
Australia’s Macquarie Park headquarters. |
I. Macfarlane
(Minister for Industry and Science), ‘Hydrogen
Car Adds to Australia’s Transport Fuel Mix’, media release, 1 April
2015. |
| 21 March 2016 |
CSIRO
releases its Cost Assessment of Hydrogen
Production from PV and Electrolysis The report finds
that hydrogen production costs from photovoltaic (PV) and electrolysis ‘are
significantly higher than the current cost of its production from steam
methane reforming’. It notes that unlike steam methane reforming, production
from PV and electrolysis would produce zero emissions. |
J. Hinkley, R.
McNaughton, R. Gillespie, A. Matsumoto, M. Watt and K. Lovegrove, Cost
Assessment of Hydrogen Production from PV and Electrolysis, (CSIRO,
21 March 2016). |
| March 2017 |
Energy
Networks Australia publishes Gas Vision
2050 This report from
Energy Networks Australia and industry partners, including the Australian
Pipelines and Gas Association (APGA) and the Australian Petroleum Production
& Exploration Association (APPEA), looks at opportunities to decarbonise
the Australian gas sector using biogas, carbon capture and storage, and
hydrogen. |
Energy Networks
Australia, Gas
Vision 2050, March 2017. |
| 3 May 2017 |
CSIRO
announces a hydrogen research project The project will
develop technology for converting ammonia to high-purity hydrogen for use in
fuel cell vehicles. |
CSIRO, ‘Membrane
to Fill Gap in Hydrogen Export Market’, media release, 3 May
2017. |
| 9 November 2017 |
CSIRO
launches the Future Science Platform The platform includes
$13.5 million for hydrogen fuel research. |
CSIRO, ‘CSIRO
Announces Investment in Two New Science Breakthroughs’,
media release, 9 November 2019. |
| 20 November 2017 |
Australian
Council of Learned Academies (ACOLA) releases a Horizon Scanning report, The Role of Energy Storage in Australia’s Future Energy
Supply Mix The report
identifies potential use cases for hydrogen for energy storage. |
B. Godfrey, R.
Dowling, M. Forsyth, R. Grafton, The Role of Energy
Storage in Australia’s Future Energy Supply Mix, (Melbourne: ACOLA,
November 2017). |
| 12 April 2018 |
Future
Fuels Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) is announced The CRC will
investigate opportunities for hydrogen and biogas. |
Z. Seselja
(Assistant Minister for Science, Jobs and Innovation), ‘Transitioning
to Future Fuels in Sights of Researchers’, media release, 12 April
2018. |
| August 2018 |
Hydrogen
Strategy Group publishes a briefing paper, Hydrogen for Australia’s Future The report flags
‘the scope of Australia’s hydrogen potential and frame discussions for a
national strategy’. The Hydrogen Strategy Group comprises
experts from industry, government and academia, and was assembled by Dr Alan
Finkel, who chairs the group. |
Hydrogen
Strategy Group, Hydrogen
for Australia’s Future, (Canberra: Australian Government, August 2018). |
| 1 August 2018 |
Australian
Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) publishes an ACIL Allen report Opportunities for Australia from Hydrogen Exports The report
examines:
- drivers for market demand for
hydrogen
- potential markets for Australian hydrogen
- Australia’s net competitive advantage relative to other
potential hydrogen exporters
- Australia’s potential market share of a global hydrogen
export market.
|
ACIL Allen
Consulting, Opportunities
for Australia from Hydrogen Exports, (Melbourne: ACIL Allen
Consulting for ARENA, August 2018). |
| 23 August 2018 |
CSIRO
publishes a National Hydrogen Roadmap The report aims
‘to provide a blueprint for the development of a hydrogen industry in
Australia’. |
S. Bruce, M.
Temminghoff, J. Hayward, E. Schmidt, C. Munnings, D. Palfreyman and P.
Hartley, National
Hydrogen Roadmap, (Melbourne: CSIRO, August 2018). |
| 19 December 2018 |
Joint
Ministerial Statement supports the development of a hydrogen industry The statement
sets a goal to ‘make Australia a major player in a global hydrogen industry by
2030’ and agrees to establish a Hydrogen Working Group, chaired by Dr Finkel. |
A. Taylor
(Minister for Energy), ‘Joint
Ministerial Statement: Hydrogen’, 19 December
2018. |
| December 2018 |
Australia’s
Chief Scientist publishes a Proposal for
a National Hydrogen Strategy The proposal
recommends that the COAG Energy Ministers ‘agree to commission a national
strategy for hydrogen based on the principles, elements, governance and
timing outlined in this paper’. |
A. Finkel, Proposal
for a National Hydrogen Strategy, presented to COAG Energy Council,
December 2018, 1. |
| December 2018 |
COAG
Energy Council establishes the Hydrogen Working Group The Working
Group, chaired by the Chief Scientist, aims to develop the national hydrogen
strategy and coordinate the approach to projects that support industry
development. |
Department of
Industry, Innovation and Science, ‘COAG
Energy Council Hydrogen Working Group’, Department of
Industry, Innovation and Science website. |
| 1 March 2019 |
COAG
Energy Council Hydrogen Working Group releases a discussion paper on the
Australian hydrogen industry The paper
outlines the steps that will be taken to develop a national hydrogen strategy
and seeks input to inform the process. Early-stage feedback will inform
public consultations and further discussion papers. |
National
Hydrogen Strategy: Request for Information – Discussion Paper, (COAG
Energy Council, March 2019). |
| 28 March 2019 |
Queensland
Government announces establishment of a renewable hydrogen pilot plant The plant,
located at the Redlands Research Facility, will receive $250,000 in funding
to continue Queensland’s progress towards a commercially viable hydrogen
industry. |
C. Dick (Qld
Minister for State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning), ‘Queensland’s
Hydrogen Future Closer to Reality’, media release, 28 March
2019. |
| May 2019 |
Queensland
Government publishes its Queensland Hydrogen
Industry Strategy 2019–2024 The strategy
aims to guide the development of a sustainable hydrogen industry in the
state. |
Department of
State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning, Queensland
Hydrogen Industry Strategy 2019–2024, (Brisbane: Qld Government, May
2019). |
| 8 May 2019 |
ACT
Government fleet introduces hydrogen powered vehicles The ACT
Government announces fleet will have 20 Hyundai hydrogen vehicles added and a
hydrogen refuelling station will be constructed. |
ActewAGL, ‘Hydrogen
refuelling station confirmed for the ACT’, ActewAGL website. |
| June 2019 |
International
Energy Agency (IEA) releases The Future
of Hydrogen The report
surveys recent hydrogen policy developments in IEA countries, including
Australia. |
IEA, The
Future of Hydrogen, (Paris: IEA, June 2019). |
| June 2019 |
ARENA
publishes Hydrogen Communities This KPMG report
presents an assessment framework and tool (the H2City Tool) to help identify the
suitability of communities for conversion of their energy usage to hydrogen. |
KPMG, Hydrogen
Communities, (KPMG, June 2019). |
| July 2019 |
Western
Australian Government announces its Western
Australian Renewable Hydrogen Strategy The strategy
sets out the strategic areas of focus for the development of the industry in
WA. |
WA Department of
Primary Industries and Regional Development, ‘Renewable
Hydrogen Industry’, WA Department of Primary Industries
and Regional Development website. |
| July 2019 |
Future
Fuels CRC releases Advancing Hydrogen:
Learning from 19 Plans to Advance Hydrogen from Across the Globe The report
‘summarises 19 hydrogen strategies and industry roadmaps and is written with
a view to helping people understand how nations, regions and industries are
thinking about opportunities to become involved in this emerging industry’. |
A. Kosturjak, T.
Dey, M.D. Young and S. Whetton, Advancing
Hydrogen: Learning from 19 Plans to Advance Hydrogen from Across the Globe,
(Future Fuels CRC, July 2019). |
| 1 July 2019 |
National
Hydrogen Strategy issues papers released The COAG Energy
Council Hydrogen Working Group releases 9 issues papers seeking
feedback on the ‘potential role of policies and actions in realising hydrogen
opportunities’ to help inform the draft National Hydrogen Strategy. |
Department of
Industry, Science, Energy and Resources, ‘National
Hydrogen Strategy issues papers: have your say’, Department of
Industry, Science, Energy and Resources website, 1 July 2019. |
| 9 July 2019 |
Queensland
Government establishes the Hydrogen Industry Development Fund The fund, part
of the Queensland Hydrogen Industry Strategy, will support sustainable and
renewable hydrogen projects. |
C. Dick (Qld
Minister for State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning), ‘Funding
to Flow Towards New Pipeline of Queensland Hydrogen Projects’,
media release, 9 July 2021. |
| 2 August 2019 |
Hydrogen
Australia is formed The Smart Energy
Council (SEC) and the Australian Association of Hydrogen Energy announce the
formation of Hydrogen Australia as a division of the SEC to advocate and support
the development of the hydrogen industry in Australia. |
Smart Energy
Council, ‘Hydrogen
Australia’. |
| September 2019 |
Geoscience
Australia releases its Prospective
Hydrogen Production Regions of Australia report The GA report
modelled 5 different scenarios and provided additional supporting data. |
A.J. Feitz, E.
Tenthorey and R.A. Coghlan, Prospective
Hydrogen Production Regions of Australia, (Canberra: Geoscience
Australia, September 2019). |
| September 2019 |
South
Australian Government publishes South
Australia’s Hydrogen Action Plan The plan
outlines SA Government intentions to facilitate investments in hydrogen
infrastructure and establish a world-class regulatory framework. |
Government of
South Australia, South
Australia’s Hydrogen Action Plan, (Government of South Australia, September
2019). |
| 4 October 2019 |
Australian
Hydrogen Council is launched Originally
formed as Hydrogen Mobility Australia in 2017, the name change reflects the
diversity of membership and broad hydrogen agenda. |
Australian
Hydrogen Council, ‘History
of AHC’. |
| October 2019 |
Australian
Pipelines and Gas Association and Energy Networks Australia release Hydrogen Innovation: Delivering on the Vision The report, an
update to Gas Vision 2050, focuses exclusively on hydrogen and
provides an overview of industry-led hydrogen technology projects. |
Energy Networks
Australia and Australian Pipelines and Gas Association, Hydrogen
Innovation: Delivering on the Vision, (Energy Networks Australia and
APGA, October 2019). |
| November 2019 |
Australia’s National
Hydrogen Strategy is released The strategy
identifies 57 ‘first step’ actions themed around national coordination and developing
production capacity, supported by:
- local demand
- responsive regulation
- international engagement
- innovation and research and development
- skills and workforce
- community confidence.
|
COAG Energy
Council, Australia’s
National Hydrogen Strategy, (Canberra: Australian Government, 22 November
2019). |
| November 2019 |
Victorian
Government releases a green hydrogen discussion paper The paper is
part of the government’s development of the Victorian Hydrogen Investment
Program. |
Victorian Department
of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, ‘The
Victorian Hydrogen Investment Program’, Engage Victoria
website. |
| December 2019 |
Australian
Hydrogen Centre is established Partly funded by
ARENA, the centre aims to help accelerate the hydrogen industry. One of the
feasibility studies will look at developing 100% hydrogen networks for
Victoria and SA. |
ARENA, ‘Australian
Hydrogen Centre’, ARENA website. Australian Gas
Infrastructure Group, ‘Australian Hydrogen
Centre’, AGIG website. |
2020s
|
| February 2020 |
Future
Fuels CRC releases a report, Lessons
Learned from Australian Infrastructure Upgrades The report aims
to help prepare for future transitions to net-zero emission future fuels
through the understanding and learning of lessons from previous
infrastructure upgrades and fuel transitions in Australia. |
C. Bond and A.
Veitch, Lessons
Learned from Australian Infrastructure Upgrades, (Future Fuels CRC,
February 2020). |
| March 2020 |
NSW
Government announces a 10-year plan to reach net-zero emissions by 2050 Under the
proposal, the NSW Government will establish a Hydrogen Program that will help
the scale-up of hydrogen as an energy source and chemical feedstock. |
Environment,
Energy and Science (in NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Science), Net
Zero Plan Stage 1: 2020–2030, (Sydney: NSW Government, March 2020). |
| March 2020 |
Tasmanian
Government releases the Tasmanian
Renewable Hydrogen Action Plan The plan states
the Government’s vision: ‘Tasmania will use our existing and expandable
renewable energy resources to become a leader in large-scale renewable
hydrogen production. From 2030 we will be a significant global supplier of
renewable hydrogen for export and domestic use’. |
Tasmanian Department
of State Growth, Tasmanian
Renewable Hydrogen Action Plan, (Hobart: Tasmanian Government, March
2020), 4. |
| April 2020 |
ARENA
opens a Renewable Hydrogen Deployment Funding Round The $70 million
fund will be used to accelerate hydrogen electrolyser technology in
Australia. |
ARENA, ‘Renewable
Hydrogen Deployment Funding Round’, ARENA website,
April 2020. |
| May 2020 |
Clean
Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) launches a $300 million Advancing
Hydrogen Fund The fund’s
purpose is to support the growth of a clean, innovative, safe and competitive
Australian hydrogen industry. |
CEFC, ‘Advancing
Hydrogen Fund’, CEFC website, May 2020. |
| June 2020 |
Future
Fuels CRC releases Regulatory mapping
for future fuels The report
assesses ‘Australia’s current regulatory framework to identify the
regulations that will require modernisation to facilitate the use of future
fuels within Australia’s energy networks and align them with the goals of
Australia’s National Hydrogen Strategy’. |
O. Sandri, S.
Holdsworth, J. Hayes, B. O’Shea, D. Krosch and L. Chester, Regulatory
Mapping for Future Fuels, (Future Fuels CRC, June 2020). |
| 20 July 2020 |
ARENA
shortlists seven projects for the $70 million hydrogen funding round The shortlisted projects
are invited to submit a full application. A description of the projects can
be found on the ARENA website. |
ARENA, ‘Seven
Shortlisted for $70 Million Hydrogen Funding Round’,
media release, 20 July 2020. |
| August 2020 |
Australian
National University’s Centre for Climate and Energy Policy releases a
hydrogen working paper It estimates
that Australia could produce green hydrogen at the cost of $2 per kilogram by
2030. This would allow it to be cost competitive with fossil fuels. |
T. Longden, F.
Jotzo, M. Prasad and E. Andrews, Green
Hydrogen Production Costs in Australia: Implications of Renewable Energy and Electrolyser
Costs, CCEP Working Paper 20-07, (Canberra: ANU, August 2020). |
| 11 September
2020 |
Australia
signs a joint feasibility study agreement with Germany The agreement initiates
a study into the potential for closer collaboration and the future
development of a hydrogen supply chain. |
A. Taylor
(Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction), ‘Positioning
Australia as a Future Hydrogen Export Powerhouse’, media release, 11 September
2020. |
| 17 September
2020 |
Morrison
Government announces a Future Fuels Fund and a hydrogen export hub The fund aims to
help ‘businesses and regional communities take advantage of opportunities
offered by hydrogen, electric, and bio-fuelled vehicles’, while $70.2 million
will go towards setting up a hydrogen export hub to scale-up demand. |
S. Morrison
(Prime Minister), ‘Investment
in New Energy Technologies’, media release, 17 September
2020. Budget
Measures: Budget Paper No. 2: 2020–21, 118–9. |
| 22 September
2020 |
First Low
Emissions Technology Statement – 2020 is released The release of
the statement is the first milestone in the Government’s Technology
Investment Roadmap. The statement sets out the Government’s nominated
priorities of clean hydrogen, energy storage, low carbon materials, carbon
capture and storage, and soil carbon measurement. |
A. Taylor
(Minister for Energy and Emissions reduction), ‘Technology-led
Plan to Lower Emissions, Lower Costs and Support Jobs’,
media release, 22 September 2020. Department of
Industry, Science, Energy and Resources (DISER), First
Low Emissions Technology Statement – 2020, (Canberra: Australian
Government, September 2020). |
| September 2020 |
Gas Vision
2050 update published Energy Networks
Australia and industry partners publish an update focused on decarbonisation
in the sector. |
Energy Networks
Australia, Gas
Vision 2050: Delivering a Clean Energy Future, September 2020. |
| 16–17 November
2020 |
Inaugural
Australian Hydrogen Conference held in Melbourne Hosted by the
Australian Hydrogen Council, the conference will explore hydrogen energy
developments in Australia, along with international export opportunities. |
Australian
Hydrogen Council, ‘Hydrogen
Conference 2020’, Australian Hydrogen Council website,
12 March 2020. |
| February 2021 |
Victorian
Government releases the Victorian
Renewable Hydrogen Industry Development Plan The plan
outlines how the Victorian Government intends to ‘lead and support a suite of
outcomes to drive the development of a renewable hydrogen sector’. |
Victorian
Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, Victorian
Renewable Hydrogen Industry Development Plan, (Melbourne: The State
of Victoria Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, February
2021). |
| 1 February 2021 |
Regional
hydrogen technology clusters announced National Energy
Resources Australia (NERA) will establish 13 clusters as part of a drive to
establish a nationwide hydrogen network. Further information about the Hydrogen
Technology Cluster Australia (H2TCA) can be found on the NERA website. |
NERA, ‘Australian-wide
Network of Game-changing Hydrogen Technology Clusters Unveiled’,
media release, 1 February 2021. |
| 11 February 2021 |
Queensland
Government announces 2 investments into hydrogen projects $20 million
for a Hydrogen Training Centre of Excellence and $10.6 million for a
Hydrogen and Renewable Energy Training Facility. |
C. Dick (Qld Treasurer),
‘Sod
Turning Marks $20 Million Investment in Future Hydrogen Workforce’,
media release, 11 February 2021. |
| 23 February 2021 |
APA Group
announces a hydrogen pilot project The project
enables a proposed conversion of 43 km of Parmelia Gas Pipeline in WA
into Australia’s first 100% hydrogen-ready transmission pipeline. |
APA, ‘APA
set to Unlock Australia’s First Hydrogen-ready Transmission Pipeline’,
media release, 23 February 2021. |
| March 2021 |
ARENA
releases a summary report on its hydrogen R&D projects The summary
lists 16 projects granted a total of $22.1 million funding. All are due
to be completed by early 2022. |
ARENA, Arena-Funded
Hydrogen R&D Projects: Summary of Mid-Term Reports, (Canberra:
ARENA, Australian Government, March 2021), 4. |
| 26 March 2021 |
Australia’s
first hydrogen refuelling station available to the public opens in the ACT |
S. Rattenbury
(ACT Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction), ‘Australia’s
First Public Hydrogen Refuelling Station Opens in Canberra’,
media release, 26 March 2021. |
| 21 April 2021 |
Morrison Government
announces further funding for hydrogen hubs $275.5 million
will be allocated in the upcoming Budget to fund the development of 4 additional
clean hydrogen hubs in regional Australia and to implement a clean hydrogen
certification scheme. |
S. Morrison (Prime
Minister), ‘Jobs
Boost from New Emissions Reduction Projects’, media release, 21 April
2021. Budget
Measures: Budget Paper No. 2: 2021–22, 138–9. |
| 22 April 2021 |
Morrison Government
announces it will allocate $565.8 million to back low emissions
technology and international partnerships This funding
‘will advance and support the goals of the Technology Investment Roadmap’. |
S. Morrison
(Prime Minister), ‘Cutting
Emissions and Creating Jobs with International Partnerships’,
media release, 21 April 2021. Budget
Measures: Budget Paper No. 2: 2021–22, 138–9. |
| 5 May 2021 |
Three new
green hydrogen plants are awarded grants in regional Australia The projects
will share in $103.3 million of conditional federal government funding
via ARENA. The
original $70 million funding envelope announced in April 2020 was
increased by $33.3 million to support the projects:
- Engie Renewables – up to $42.5 million towards a 10 megawatt
(MW) electrolyser project
- ATCO – up to $28.7 million towards a 10 MW
electrolyser for gas blending
- Australian Gas Networks Limited (part of AGIG) to receive
up to $32.1 million towards a 10 MW
electrolyser for gas blending.
|
ARENA, ‘Over
$100 million to Build Australia’s First Large-scale Hydrogen Plants’,
media release, 5 May 2021. |
| 24 May 2021 |
CEFC
releases the Australian Hydrogen Market
Study The study
assesses the economic competitiveness of green hydrogen over 3 time frames –
2020, 2030 and 2050. |
Advisian (R. de
Vos), Australian
Hydrogen Market Study, (Brisbane: CEFC, 24 May 2021). |
| 26 May 2021 |
Queensland
Government commits $100,000 towards the development of 2 further hydrogen
clusters Funding will
support the progress of cluster strategies in Gladstone and Toowoomba through
a partnership with National Energy Resources Australia (NERA). |
NERA, ‘Momentum
Grows in Queensland’s Hydrogen Sector with Addition of Two More Technology Clusters’,
media release, 26 May 2021. |
| 26–27 May 2021 |
Australian
Hydrogen Council holds the second Australian Hydrogen Conference in Sydney The conference
aims to explore the latest emerging projects, challenges, opportunities and
lessons, and help shape the future of the hydrogen industry. |
Australian
Hydrogen Council, ‘The Australian
Hydrogen Conference’, Australian Hydrogen Council website. |
| 10 June 2021 |
Queensland
Government announces a Queensland Renewable Energy and Hydrogen Jobs Fund The $2 billion
investment is intended to ‘provide cheaper, cleaner energy to power more jobs
and more industries in Queensland’. |
A. Palaszczuk (Qld
Premier), ‘$2 billion
Investment to Power More Jobs and More Industries Through Cheaper, Cleaner
Energy’, media release, 10 June 2021. |
| 17 June 2021 |
The CEFC
Clean Energy Innovation Fund invests in its first hydrogen project The fund will
provide $750,000 to Hysata to commercialise innovative electrolyser
production technology developed at Wollongong University by Professor Gerry
Swiegers. |
CEFC, ‘CEFC
Makes First Hydrogen-related Investment, Alongside Lead Investor IP Group’,
media release, 17 June 2021. |
| 21 June 2021 |
Guarantee
of Origin scheme for hydrogen discussion paper released The scheme will
provide verified information to buyers of Australian hydrogen that the
product was produced without emissions, or that the emissions were captured
or offset. |
Department of Industry,
Science, Energy and Resources, A
Hydrogen Guarantee of Origin Scheme for Australia, (Canberra:
Australian Government, June 2021). |
| 26 June 2021 |
Victorian
Government releases the Gas Substitution
Roadmap Consultation Paper and opens it for public submissions The roadmap will
include pathways to substitute natural gas with hydrogen. |
Victorian Department
of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, ‘Help
Us Build Victoria’s Gas Substitution Roadmap’, Engage Victoria
website. |
| 20 September
2021 |
Morrison
Government announces a further 2 hydrogen hub locations An additional
$150 million in funding is allocated for the new hubs under the Clean
Hydrogen Industrial Hubs (CHIH) program. The 7 prospective hub locations
across Australia are identified and include: Bell Bay (Tas), Darwin (NT);
Eyre Peninsula (SA); Gladstone (Qld); Latrobe Valley (Vic); Hunter Valley
(NSW); and Pilbara (WA). |
A. Taylor
(Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction), ‘Future
Hydrogen Industry to Create Jobs, Lower Emissions and Boost Regional Australia’,
media release, 20 September 2021. |
| 20 September
2021 |
Australian
Clean Hydrogen Industrial Hubs Program funding rounds opened Under the CHIH
program, 2 grant programs launch to support the development of clean hydrogen
industrial hubs in regional Australia: Hub
Development and Design Grants and Hub
Implementation Grants. |
CSIRO, ‘Australian
Clean Hydrogen Industrial Hubs Program’, CSIRO website. |
| 10 October 2021 |
Queensland
Government announces a new partnership with Fortescue Future Industries The partnership
is for planning a hydrogen-equipment manufacturing facility in Gladstone. The
facility would have an annual capacity to manufacture up to 2 gigawatts of
electrolysers. |
A. Palaszczuk (Qld
Premier), ‘One
of the World’s Largest Hydrogen Equipment Manufacturing Hubs Set for
Gladstone’, media release, 10 October 2021. |
| 13 October 2021 |
NSW
Government releases the NSW Hydrogen
Strategy The strategy sets
out a path for developing a hydrogen industry in NSW and aims to more than
halve the cost of green hydrogen production. |
D. Perrottet (NSW
Premier), ‘NSW Hydrogen Strategy to Drive
Investment, Create Jobs and Power Prosperity’, media release, 13 October
2021. |
| 26 October 2021 |
Morrison
Government releases Australia’s Long-term
Emissions Reduction Plan The plan, which
has clean hydrogen as a priority technology, uses the Technology
Investment Roadmap as its foundation and aims to outline how Australia
will reach net-zero by 2050 by:
- driving down the cost of low-emissions technologies
- deploying these technologies at scale
- helping regional industries and communities seize
economic opportunities in new and traditional markets
- working with other countries on the technologies needed
to decarbonise the world’s economy.
|
S. Morrison
(Prime Minister), ‘Australia’s
Plan to Reach our Net Zero Target by 2050’, media release, 26 October
2021. DISER, Australia’s
Long-term Emissions Reduction Plan, (Canberra: Australian Government,
26 October 2021). DISER, ‘Australia’s
Long-term Emissions Reduction Plan’, DISER website. |
| 2 November 2021 |
Morrison Government
releases its second Low Emissions
Technology Statement This statement
expands on the priorities set out in the first statement. The statement
introduces the Government’s first enabling infrastructure priorities, which
include hydrogen refuelling stations. |
A. Taylor
(Minister of Industry, Energy and Emissions Reduction), ‘Address
at launch of the Low Emissions Technology Statement 2021, COP26, Glasgow’,
speech, 2 November 2021. DISER, Low
Emissions Technology Statement 2021, (Canberra: Australian Government,
2 November 2021). |
| 9 November 2021 |
Morrison
Government announces it will expand its Future Fuels Fund by $178 million The fund will
focus on 4 key areas:
- public electric vehicle charging and hydrogen refuelling
infrastructure
- heavy and long-distance vehicle technologies
- commercial fleets
- household smart charging.
|
S. Morrison
(Prime Minister), ‘Driving
Consumer Choice and Uptake of Low-emissions Vehicles’,
media release, 9 November 2021. |
| 9 November 2021 |
Morrison
Government releases its Future Fuels and
Vehicles Strategy The strategy
aims to reduce transport emissions, and to increase the uptake of hybrid,
hydrogen, electric and biofueled vehicles. The strategy is backed by the Future Fuels Fund. |
S. Morrison
(Prime Minister), ‘Driving
Consumer Choice and Uptake of Low-emissions Vehicles’,
media release, 9 November 2021. DISER, Future
Fuels and Vehicles Strategy, (Canberra: Australian Government,
November 2021). |
| 22 November 2021 |
Tasmanian
Government lodges funding submission to develop a renewable hydrogen hub with
the Australian Government The lodgement initiates
the Tasmanian Green Hydrogen Hub Project at Bell Bay, which aims to ‘establish
the right environment and infrastructure necessary for operations to start
unlocking the potential for large-scale hydrogen export and supporting
domestic market activation in Tasmania and on the mainland’. |
G. Barnett (Tasmanian
Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction), ‘Tasmanian
Green Hydrogen Hub Project Submission’, media release, 22 November
2021. |
| 23 November 2021 |
Morrison
Government announces a collaboration between Australia and Germany The
collaboration will ‘strengthen bilateral cooperation on the development of
hydrogen technology’. Australia commits $50 million and Germany commits
€50 million to the HyGATE initiative, which will support ‘real-world
pilot, trial, demonstration and research projects along the hydrogen supply
chain’. |
A. Taylor
(Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction), ‘Australia-Germany
to Support Hydrogen Supply Chain Projects’, media release, 23 November
2021. |
| 29 November 2021 |
Western
Australian Government announces an investment in renewable hydrogen hubs Up to $117.5 million
will be made available to attract Australian Government funding for Pilbara
and Mid West-based renewable hydrogen hubs. |
WA Department of
Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation, ‘Renewable
Hydrogen Hubs’, media release, 29 November 2021. |
| 10 December 2021 |
State of
Hydrogen 2021 released The report
provides commentary on the state of Australia’s hydrogen industry and
identifies 3 main areas for action to further develop a hydrogen industry in
Australia:
- building domestic demand
- low-cost hydrogen production at scale
- reducing hydrogen delivery costs.
|
A. Taylor
(Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction), ‘Strong
Progress Towards Australian Clean Hydrogen Industry’,
media release, 10 December 2021. DISER, State
of Hydrogen 2021, (Canberra: Australian Government, 10 December
2021). |
For copyright reasons some linked items are only available to members of Parliament.
In essence, you are free to copy and communicate this work in its current form for all non-commercial purposes, as long as you attribute the work to the author and abide by the other licence terms. The work cannot be adapted or modified in any way. Content from this publication should be attributed in the following way: Author(s), Title of publication, Series Name and No, Publisher, Date.
To the extent that copyright subsists in third party quotes it remains with the original owner and permission may be required to reuse the material.
This work has been prepared to support the work of the Australian Parliament using information available at the time of production. The views expressed do not reflect an official position of the Parliamentary Library, nor do they constitute professional legal opinion.
Any concerns or complaints should be directed to the Parliamentary Librarian. Parliamentary Library staff are available to discuss the contents of publications with Senators and Members and their staff. To access this service, clients may contact the author or the Library‘s Central Entry Point for referral.