ARENA invests $59.1 million to propel Australian hydrogen and green minerals innovation
This latest renewable energy funding injection reinforces ARENA's strategic priorities in renewable hydrogen and low emissions metals, identifying them as critical components of Australia's energy future.
The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has today announced the allocation of $59.1 million across 21 pioneering research projects in two funding rounds.
Each of the two funding rounds—Renewable Hydrogen and Iron & Steel—were originally earmarked at $25 million each. However, due to the exceptional quality of applications received, the funding pool was expanded to $59.1 million.
The Hydrogen R&D round, in particular, seeks to accelerate the commercialization of renewable hydrogen by driving innovation across production, storage, and distribution technologies.
Renewable hydrogen is poised to play a pivotal role in emission reduction, especially in challenging-to-decarbonize sectors like iron and steel production.
The funding has been provided to research teams from some of Australia’s top universities, research organisations, startups and companies.
The funding structure comprises two stages: an initial core research phase followed by a research commercialization stage aimed at scaling up and demonstrating the practical application of research breakthroughs in the market.
This structured approach demonstrates ARENA's commitment to nurturing early-stage innovation and facilitating its transition into real-world solutions.
Darren Miller, ARENA CEO said of the funding, "Innovation starts in the lab, and we have the best minds taking our decarbonization efforts to the next level—to the benefit of all Australians through jobs, lower emissions, and cheaper energy."
Hydrogen R&D Funding Round
Recipient: Future Energy Exports CRC Limited
Project: Development and demonstration of safe, efficient hydrogen liquefaction through optimised mixed refrigerants and plant design
ARENA funding ($): $2.1 million
Total Project Cost ($): $6.3 million
Recipient: Cavendish Renewable Technology Pty Ltd
Project: Efficient, scalable and modular ammonia to hydrogen/electricity conversion system development and demonstration
ARENA funding ($): $1.6 million
Total Project Cost ($): $4.3 million
Recipient: Hysata Pty Ltd
Project: High-temperature, Ultra-high Efficiency Green Hydrogen Production
ARENA funding ($): $3 million
Total Project Cost ($): $5.9 million
Recipient: Curtin University
Project: Hydrogen export using a powder
ARENA funding ($): $5 million
Total Project Cost ($): $16.5 million
Recipient: Monash University
Project: Lowering the cost of proton exchange water electrolysis systems
ARENA funding ($): $2.3 million
Total Project Cost ($): $7.2 million
Recipient: Australian National University
Project: Accelerating the Commercialisation of the Direct Solar-to-Hydrogen Technology
ARENA funding ($): $2.2 million
Total Project Cost ($): $7.5 million
Recipient: University of Melbourne
Project: Mega-Scale Liquid H2 Storage with Super-Insulated Full-Containment and Zero-Boil-Off
ARENA funding ($): $3.1 million
Total Project Cost ($): $6.6 million
Recipient: The University of Sydney
Project: Advanced Manufacturing Alkaline Electrolyser Cell-Stacks for Affordable and Scalable Green Hydrogen Production
ARENA funding ($): $2.2 million
Total Project Cost ($): $5.9 million
Recipient: University of New South Wales
Project: Production, Multiphase Electrolysers for Renewable Ammonia Production
ARENA funding ($): $1.9 million
Total Project Cost ($): $7.2 million
Recipient: Australian National University
Project: H2 storage enabled by nano-scaffolded gas hydrate capsules with ground-source energy utilisation
ARENA funding ($): $1.4 million
Total Project Cost ($): $5.5 million
Recipient: Jupiter Ionics Pty Ltd
Project: Capital Cost reduction in electrochemical ammonia synthesis
ARENA funding ($): $2.5 million
Total Project Cost ($): $6.5 million
Recipient: Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT)
Project: Solar-Energy-Driven Modular Floatable Device for Scalable Green Hydrogen Production from Wastewater
ARENA funding ($): $2 million
Total Project Cost ($): $5.9 million
Recipient: MIH2 Pty Ltd (subsidiary of FFI)
Project: Scale up and demonstration of next generation CSIRO axial flow electrolyser for green hydrogen production
ARENA funding ($): $4.9 million
Total Project Cost ($): $14.3 million
TOTAL ARENA FUNDING: $34.2 million
TOTAL PROJECT COST: $99.6 million
