Hydrogen Hub Grant Programs offering co-funding up to $70 million
The now $464 million grant program provides up to $3 million grants for project consortia to initially progress feasibility and design work, and up to $70 million towards the roll-out of projects
The Federal Government’s $1.2 billion hydrogen commitment was increased by an additional $150 million yesterday, as funding was announced for a further two locations under the Clean Hydrogen Industrial Hubs program.
Hydrogen Hubs will consolidate Australia’s natural resource strengths to unlock cheap, clean energy and stimulate a potential surge in industrial activity whilst boosting economic activity and jobs in regional Australia.
Identified by the National Hydrogen Strategy as a priority measure, these Hubs will create economies of scale by co-locating hydrogen producers, users and exporters in one location.
Seven prospective locations across Australia have been identified and include: Bell Bay (TAS), Darwin (NT), Eyre Peninsula (SA), Gladstone (QLD), Latrobe Valley (VIC), Hunter Valley (NSW), and Pilbara (WA).
Minister for Energy and Emissions Reduction Angus Taylor said Clean Hydrogen Industrial Hubs will create the domestic demand needed to help the hydrogen industry drive down costs and scale-up production creating new job opportunities for our regions.
“We are looking to partner with industry, and work with state and territory governments to make this a reality,” Minister Taylor said.
The Clean Hydrogen Industrial Hub Grants program will build on the work being done by the Special Adviser on Low Emissions Technology, Dr Alan Finkel, to broker international partnerships and initiatives that will accelerate the deployment of hydrogen and other priority low emissions technologies.
Cooperation on hydrogen forms part of new low emissions partnerships with Germany, Singapore, Japan and the United Kingdom announced in 2021.
While the hydrogen program is open Australia-wide, the seven locations have been identified based on strong interest and activity from industry and each location’s existing capabilities, infrastructure and resources.
The Hub Implementation Grants round will support Australian industry to roll-out and establish clean hydrogen industrial hub projects in regional Australia, with co-funded grants up to $70 million available.
Program guidelines for The Clean Hydrogen Industrial Hub Grants and The Hub Implementation Grants are now available at business.gov.au, with applications to open in coming weeks.
