Hydrogen

The US Department of Energy has allocated USD 7 billion ($11 billion) for seven Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs (H2Hubs) to deploy commercial-scale clean hydrogen, while the Mission Possible Partnership, RMI, Systemiq, Power2X, and industry leaders have set up the Transatlantic Clean Hydrogen Trade Coalition (H2TC) to ship US clean hydrogen to Europe by 2026.

Diesel trains have been retrofitted with batteries and are now running from Adelaide stations, in the latest of a spate of sustainable transport trials in the South Australian capital. This includes trials with fully electric trains and the beginning of trials with hydrogen-powered and pure electric buses.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) scientists have developed a train-like concentrated solar power (CSP) system for hydrogen production, with plans to build a prototype in the coming year. They say that this innovative system can capture up to 40% of the sun’s heat to produce environmentally friendly hydrogen fuel.

Boundary Power is claiming an Australian first with the unveiling of a 100% relocatable and modular stand-alone power system that integrates solar with a hydrogen electrolyser and storage system, doing away with the traditional back-up diesel generator.

A green hydrogen collective that includes Australia’s Fortescue is set to share in more than $11 billion (USD 7 billion) of United States government funding as the Biden administration seeks to accelerate the commercial-scale production and deployment of low-cost, renewable hydrogen.

South Korean steelmaker Posco and French renewables giant Engie are investigating the feasibility of establishing a large-scale renewable hydrogen project in Western Australia that would provide fuel for a green iron venture planned for the state’s Pilbara region.

Fortescue is pressing ahead with the development of a 70,000-tonne green hydrogen production facility at Gibson Island in Queensland, tapping North American hydrogen technology company Plug Power to supply 550 MW of electrolysers for the proposed project.

The Western Australian government has studied the business case for developing new electrolyser manufacturing facilities in the state, finding a 2 GW manufacturing facility could inject $200 million (USD 128 million) per annum to the local economy.

The Queensland Parliament has passed new legislation that will see hydrogen pipelines regulated in the same way as fossil fuel gases, creating clearer regulatory pathways and safety assessments for hydrogen projects.

Australia’s federal hydrogen support program has now opened to applications after this process was expedited – likely in response to concerns Australia is rapidly losing ground in the hydrogen race.