Australia announces three new hydrogen clusters in Queensland, WA

Australia announced three new regional technology clusters for clean hydrogen that would advance commercialization opportunities, a statement from the Ministry of Industry, Energy and Emissions Reduction said Dec. 3.

The new clusters would be located in Townsville in Queensland and Gascoyne and Midwest regions of Western Australia, and operate under the Hydrogen Technology Cluster Australia program, an initiative of the National Energy Resources Australia, which is funded by the government's Industry Growth Centre initiative.

"Encouraging innovation and building capabilities, particularly in regional Australia, will help make Australian hydrogen supply chains the most attractive in the world," said Angus Taylor, minister of Industry, Energy and Emissions Reduction.

The Australian government has an investment budget of more than A$1.2 billion ($846.43 million) to accelerate the development of its hydrogen industry.

Australian hydrogen production for export and domestic use could also generate more than A$50 billion in additional gross domestic product by 2050, the statement said.

The three new clusters will join an existing network of 15 regional hydrogen technology clusters across Australia to aid in the development of the hydrogen supply chain.

Some of these clusters under NERA are Bell Bay Hydrogen Technology Cluster in Tasmania, NewH2-Hunter Hydrogen Technology Cluster in New South Wales and Central Queensland Hydrogen Ecosystem Cluster in Queensland.

S&P Global Platts assessed Western Australia hydrogen produced via SMR with CCS at A$6.84/kg Dec. 2, up 37.9% up from Nov. 2.

Queensland hydrogen produced via alkaline electrolysis, including capex, was assessed at A$4.91/kg Dec. 2, up 10.84% from Nov. 2.