In a bid to transition to cleaner energy sources, the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) announced earlier this month that it has conditionally approved $103.3 million towards three commercial-scale renewable hydrogen projects, as part of its Renewable Hydrogen Deployment Funding Round.
At 10 MW, the electrolysers in these hydrogen plants will be among the largest so far built in the world, with a combined project value of $161 million.
Among the efforts towards a cleaner energy transition in the great southern land, the Australian state of Queensland is looking to boost its hydrogen credentials with the establishment of two new hydrogen technology clusters. National Energy Resources Australia (Nera) revealed Wednesday the clusters had been established in Gladstone and Toowoomba following a A$100,000 (US$77,707) commitment from the Queensland government to establish the clusters through a partnership with Nera.
The clusters will focus separately on a number of initiatives including supply chain activation, green hydrogen, research, technology development, global opportunities, community social licence, agricultural applications, as well as education, skills and capability.
“Backing clusters in Gladstone and Toowoomba will drive the development of Queensland’s hydrogen supply chain in a way that delivers jobs for regional Queenslanders in areas like components and materials manufacturing for this new technology,” said Queensland’s Minister for Energy, Renewables and Hydrogen, Mick de Brenni.
The two new clusters will join the already established H2Q cluster in Brisbane, which was one of 13 hydrogen technology clusters Nera unveiled earlier this year as part of the national Hydrogen Technology Cluster Australia (H2TCA) network.
“Today is yet another step along the road and a further indication of Australia’s capability in developing hydrogen technologies,” Nera chief executive Miranda Taylor said Wednesday.
