THE FEDERAL and South Australian governments have finalised a grant agreement to develop the Port Bonython Hydrogen Hub.
The governments have together committed $100 million to develop infrastructure to ready Port Bonython to become what they claim will be the state’s first large-scale export terminal for hydrogen.
They expect the redeveloped Port Bonython to host projects worth up to $13 billion and generate as much as 1.8 million tonnes of hydrogen by 2030.
The governments believe the available land and solar and wind resources in South Australia position the state as a potential low-cost hydrogen supplier.
A plan to develop a hydrogen industry in the Spencer Gulf would include development of a hydrogen electrolyser, power station and storage facility.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the Port Bonython Hydrogen Hub would support regional jobs and bring Australia a step closer to becoming a “renewable energy superpower”.
“The global shift to clean energy and decarbonised economies is a huge economic opportunity for Australia,” he said.
“We are determined to grasp this opportunity and are investing half a billion dollars into regional hydrogen hubs all around Australia.”
South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas said the state government, through its Hydrogen Jobs Plan, was seizing the mantle to produce a hydrogen electrolyser, power plant and storage facility.
“Our state is blessed with the key ingredients the world needs to decarbonise international economies – abundant coincident wind and solar resources, critical minerals, strong renewable energy penetration, and well developed industrial hubs,” he said.
“We’re working closely with industry to maximise this opportunity to grow a new industry, which has potential to create thousands of jobs and improve the standard of living for South Australians for generations to come.”
The Australian government, through the Net Zero Economy Agency and review of the National Hydrogen Strategy, plans to consider what is required to facilitate hydrogen supply chains.
Its stated vision is to build a clean, innovative, safe and competitive hydrogen industry.
The federal government said it is investing more than half-a-billion dollars for regional hydrogen hubs including in the Pilbara, Kwinana, Gladstone, Townsville, the Hunter, Bell Bay and Upper Spencer Gulf.
The recent Commonwealth Budget allocated $2 billion for a new Hydrogen Headstart program to scale up development of Australia’s renewable hydrogen industry.
