The Victorian Government has announced two new grants to help businesses switch to renewable hydrogen ─ with $7.2 million in funding to deliver trials, pilots and feasibility studies.
The new grants aim to help businesses transition to renewable hydrogen by funding a variety of projects – from using hydrogen to decarbonising transport to creating new clean manufacturing opportunities, as Victoria works to halve its emissions by 2030.
The grants are funded through the $10 million Accelerating Victoria’s Hydrogen Industry package and are part of a range of activities identified in the Renewable Hydrogen Industry Development Plan.
The plan sets out a blueprint for how the Victorian Government will establish a thriving renewable hydrogen sector.
Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change, Lily D’Ambrosio, said, “We are making it easier for businesses and industry to push the frontiers of renewable hydrogen and embrace this clean energy alternative.
“Victoria’s renewable hydrogen sector will see our state lead the way in this emerging technology, while also creating new jobs, and keeping us on track to halve our emissions by 2030.”
Renewable hydrogen offers enormous potential as a clean and reliable alternative to natural gas, transport fuels and some industrial feedstocks. It can be used in a growing range of industries, including agriculture, manufacturing, commercial users, water corporations and gas producers and distributors.
To support capital works projects for hydrogen pilots, trials and demonstration the Victorian Government will invest $6.2 million through the Renewable Hydrogen Commercialisation Pathways Fund, and an additional $1 million to assist businesses to develop business plans to use hydrogen through the Renewable Hydrogen Business Ready Fund.
Victoria’s renewable hydrogen sector plans will also create long-term jobs through new career pathways and skills clusters, enable the export of renewable energy, drive innovation, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions across our industrial, energy and transport sectors.
Ms D’Ambrosio, said, “Renewable hydrogen is a key player in Victoria’s clean energy transition, ensuring we’re well on track to meet our renewable energy targets and our ultimate goal of net-zero emissions by 2050.”
Applications for grants under both programs close on 27 August 2021.
To apply, and find out more about the Renewable Hydrogen Industry Plan, click here.
