The Hydrogen Energy Supply Chain (HESC) Project welcomes recent reforms to the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) that will greatly accelerate Australia’s ability to become a leading player in the global hydrogen revolution.
ARENA’s expanded remit will allow it to support a broader range of technologies including the clean hydrogen and carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies outlined in Australia’s National Hydrogen Strategy and First Low Emissions Technology Statement.
The HESC Project is a world-first initiative that is using these technologies to demonstrate that hydrogen produced through gasification of coal in Victoria’s Latrobe Valley with CCS technologies can be safely and cost-effectively produced and exported to Japan.
ARENA’s expanded role will spur increased investment in Australian hydrogen infrastructure that will underpin renewable hydrogen initiatives and the HESC Project alike.
The growth of Australia’s hydrogen industry has been exponential since the launch of the Australian portion of the HESC Pilot in 2018. These latest reforms to ARENA signal an exciting next step that will further support the creation of future-proofed Australian jobs and boost international decarbonisation efforts under the Paris Agreement.