A new council is set to be developed to drive opportunities for a 21st century renewable hydrogen industry in Western Australia.
More than 300 national and international delegates recently met in Perth at Western Australia’s Renewable Hydrogen Conference.
Hydrogen is a clean-burning fuel, and when made using renewable energy it is a carbon free fuel from production to utilisation. It can be used in a range of industries – including transport and electricity generation – but can also be stored and exported.
Western Australia has enormous potential for the development of a renewable hydrogen industry with its vast available land and renewable energy resources.
With key international markets such as Japan and Korea choosing a substantial role for hydrogen in their future energy mix, the opportunities for WA to export its renewable energy via hydrogen are potentially significant.
Western Australian Premier, Mark McGowan, said that the government is pushing for innovation, diversification and bold new ways to develop clean energies, grow exports and drive new job opportunities across the state.
“As the world continues to transition to a low-emissions future, it is increasingly apparent that hydrogen can play an important role – and WA can be central to that future,” Mr McGowan said.
Regional Development Minister, Alannah MacTiernan, is also excited about the potential for renewable hydrogen creation in Western Australia.
“To create renewable hydrogen you need vast stretches of land and high-quality renewable energy resources – two things Western Australia has in abundance,” Ms MacTiernan said.
“Now is the time to embrace this opportunity and drive forward the hydrogen industry and its place in WA – to realise the thousands of jobs this industry could create.
“The Renewable Hydrogen Council will report back to Government by early 2019 on the best ways to grow the industry and maximise benefits for the State.”
Exploration of the opportunities for hydrogen will be driven by the Renewable Hydrogen Council, which will comprise of experts from the private and public sectors to provide guidance on ways to progress the industry, and maximise benefits to the state and jobs for Western Australians.
