THE WESTERN Australian Government is funding a joint study with Mid West Ports Authority and the Port of Rotterdam to examine the export of hydrogen from the state.
The state government on Tuesday announced $5.5 million in funding for planning works and studies for the Mid West Hydrogen Hub over the next 12 to 18 months.
An important component of the hydrogen hub is the Oakajee Strategic Industrial Area (SIA), an industrial precinct located around 23 kilometres north of Geraldton.
The state government considers the Oakajee SIA an ideal site for the production of renewable hydrogen, including for domestic and commercial use and advanced manufacturing and export.
The port study was allocated $500,000 in funding and builds off a memorandum of understanding signed in November last year between the state government and Port of Rotterdam to investigate the renewable hydrogen supply chain between WA and the Dutch port.
In addition, $600,000 was committed to cultural heritage works, $300,000 to water supply studies and $400,000 to prepare project approval plans and further feasibility studies on hydrogen demand initiatives.
And, energy corporation Western Power was allocated $3 million to assess the feasibility of electricity connection for the Oakajee SIA and DevelopmentWA was allocated $1.2 million to undertake land planning works.
Hydrogen industry minister Alannah MacTiernan said the $5.5 million in funding would help fast-track the development of the hydrogen hub.
“The Mid-West has attracted international interest for its renewable hydrogen potential, and we are providing support needed to make these job-creating projects a reality,” she said.
Geraldton MLA Lara Dalton said the hydrogen hub represented an opportunity to transform the region’s economy and embrace a cleaner future.
“Thank you to Minister MacTiernan for believing in the potential of the Mid West Hydrogen Hub to become a world-class exporter of renewable hydrogen,” she said.
“It is pleasing to see this transformative project take another step forward today.”
The latest round of funding adds to the government’s $7.5 million commitment for an access road into the Oakajee SIA to kick-start activation of the precinct.
Minister Tiernan also announced the state government’s Industrial Lands Panel had approved Oakajee SIA land allocation.
The Industrial Lands Panel has agreed to allocate land to six proposals from companies with an interest in developing hydrogen-related projects at Oakajee SIA, pending the finalisation of key terms negotiations with DevelopmentWA.
