The Victorian Government has announced more than $7 million in funding for renewable hydrogen trials and studies, aiming to grow the sector and reduce emissions.
Victorian Minister for Energy, Environment and Climate Change, Lily D’Ambrosio, announced recipients of grants whose projects will support the development of Victoria’s renewable hydrogen sector.
“Renewable hydrogen is a key part of our clean energy transition, ensuring we can meet our target of halving emissions by 2030 and hit net zero by 2050,” Ms D’Ambrosio said.
“These exciting projects will help businesses push the frontiers of renewable hydrogen and embrace this clean energy solution.”
$6.6 million is being provided through the Renewable Hydrogen Commercialisation Pathways Fund to support six projects that will see Victoria produce and use renewable hydrogen in real-world applications.
Volgren Australia will develop two commercial-grade hydrogen fuel cell electric buses for trials in Dandenong, while Viva Energy will develop a hydrogen refuelling station to co-locate with EV charging in a public New Energies service station.
Air Liquide and Energys Australia will develop renewable hydrogen production facilities for transport, while Boundary Power will develop an Australian-first, solar-renewable hydrogen standalone power system.
The Boundary Power system will convert solar power into hydrogen, and use that hydrogen to generate electricity during power outages or in remote areas that are not served by the grid.
Telstra received funding to deploy a renewable hydrogen fuel cell generator at regional mobile communication sites, to strengthen the grid and remove the reliance on fossil fuels generators.
More than $800,000 will be shared by eight recipients through the Renewable Hydrogen Business Ready Fund to develop business cases or feasibility studies to support their transition to renewable hydrogen.
The grants are being delivered as part of the Victorian Renewable Hydrogen Industry Development Plan – which was launched in February 2021 to foster a thriving renewable hydrogen economy in Victoria.
Victoria’s renewable hydrogen sector aims to create long-term jobs through skills development and new career pathways, drive innovation and reduce greenhouse gas emissions across industrial, energy and transport sectors.
For more information, visit energy.vic.gov.au/renewable-hydrogen/renewable-hydrogen.
