Hydrogen Cluster Roundtable

September 22, 2020: Hydrogen Cluster Roundtable

Clockwise from 12 o’clock: Brian Haggerty, Caroline Cherry, Katie Cook, Jill Stajduhar, Adam Osseiran, Alan Langford, Andrew McCluskey, Peter Kasprzak

Thanks to the initiative of Jill Stajduhar, Director at Wayfarer Connect, approaching Hydrogen Society of Australia (HSA) directors, Brian Haggerty (Woodside) and Peter Kasprzak (Innovate Australia) as well as Katie Cook, Project Manager at the Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation, a small group met on 9/9/20 at the Botanical Cafe in Kings Park, to discuss the potential of creating a Hydrogen Cluster in Western Australia; possibly focused on hydrogen-based heavy transport. The group also included Caroline Cherry, General Manager Renewable Hydrogen Branch at Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation, Andrew McCluskey (Siemens) Director at (HSA), Professor Adam Osseiran (ECU) VP at HSA and Economist, Alan Langford.

Australia’s emerging hydrogen and energy technology businesses can now tap into new funding and industry support as part of the first structured development program to create a network of hydrogen technology clusters around Australia.

The Regional Hydrogen Technology Clusters Seed Funding Program was announced by NERA (National Energy Resources Australia) to build the skills, capacities and commercialisation opportunities necessary to unlock Australia’s enormous potential to create a globally competitive hydrogen industry that could add $11 billion and thousands of jobs to the national economy by 2050.

The Program will provide seed funding of up to $100,000 per successful applicant to develop a hydrogen technology cluster. NERA is seeking expressions of interest from businesses with a clear focus on commercial outcomes, that can demonstrate a commitment and capability to establish and/or grow a hydrogen technology cluster in a specified region within Australia. Applications can be submitted by either a consortium or single organisations.

NERA CEO Miranda Taylor said that once established, the network of regional clusters will accelerate the development of hydrogen technology and expertise and will play a central role in connecting with one another to establish the national cluster, which is proposed to operate as a virtual network.

Event Resources

Establishing a National Hydrogen Cluster – Stakeholder Consultation Summary

Australia’s National Hydrogen Strategy (NHS) supports NERA to lead the establishment of a national hydrogen cluster to help build capabilities and drive industry collaboration across the hydrogen value chain and maximise economic benefits by ensuring Australian companies are well placed to supply new technology, products and services to domestic and international markets.

Aurecon’s Hydrogen for Transport report

The Australian transport sector is under increasing pressure to reduce carbon emissions, whilst also managing a fuel supply chain that relies heavily on foreign import partners. Transport in Australia equates to a significant proportion (approximately 18%) of the country’s total greenhouse gas emissions.

Australian Hydrogen Hubs Study

The International Energy Agency (IEA) has identified the opportunity to create ‘hydrogen hubs’ could bring down the cost of low-carbon hydrogen pathways. The term ‘hub’ refers to a region that has the potential to aggregate demand for hydrogen. These hubs could be coastal industrial clusters or co-located near ports. The creation of hubs is expected to be an effective springboard to growing a hydrogen economy.

NERA – The Regional Hydrogen Technology Clusters Seed Funding Program