Hydrogen

Australia and India will establish a Green Hydrogen Taskforce, with prime ministers today agreeing to the Taskforce’s terms of reference. The meeting strengthens ties between India and Australia in relation to renewable energy ambitions and manufacturing, with plans extending to critical mineral and solar manufacturing.

Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) has announced plans to develop an $30 billion (USD 19,95 billion) green hydrogen production hub on South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula, while a new research study shows the feasibility of gas-to-hydrogen pipeline conversion in Western Australia.

Australia and the United States have signed a landmark agreement with the two nations vowing to work collaboratively towards accelerating and expanding clean energy supply chains, renewable energy technologies manufacturing, and critical minerals supply.

Scientists in Singapore have developed a methodology to calculate the levelised cost of hydrogen in green hydrogen facilities powered by photovoltaics, emphasising the need for a levelised cost of storage (LCOH) below USD 10/kg ($15/kg) to enable green hydrogen to compete with grey, blue, and orange hydrogen in the current technology landscape.

British-headquartered oil and gas giant BP is a step closer to establishing a large-scale integrated renewables and green hydrogen project on Western Australia’s mid-west coast after outlaying $23 million for an almost 23,000-hectare property.

Australian renewable hydrogen company Infinite Green Energy has expanded its relationship with Samsung C&T, teaming with the South Korean industrial conglomerate to progress its flagship Arrowsmith project which is anticipated will produce more than 300 tonnes of renewable hydrogen per day using wind and solar energy.

A prestigious award, along with $3.7 million (USD 2.5 million) has been awarded to University of Wollongong electrochemist Professor Gerhard Swiegers for his efficiency breakthrough for hydrogen electrolysers, which are currently being commercialised by startup Hysata.

India will use its internal market to scale up hydrogen projects, with Germany as a possible export destination. As part of a broader strategy, the countries will collaborate on a financial and technological level on energy transition projects.

The Australian government has presented its 2023-2024 budget, with $2 billion (USD 1.35 billion) to be invested in hydrogen, while Austria, Germany, and Italy said they have started moving forward on a southern hydrogen corridor from North Africa to Northern Europe.

A new report from the South Asia Regional Energy Partnership (SAREP) of the United States Agency for International Development, better known as USAID, says India’s green hydrogen demand will reach 2.85 million metric tonnes (MMT) per year by 2030.