The Western Australian Government will provide $33.6 million funding to five decarbonisation projects in the state, including a new model that showcases how remote communities can produce their own power and reduce reliance on diesel generators.
Western Australian Minister for Innovation and the Digital Economy, Stephen Dawson, said the project, which will receive $5 million, was one of five major projects in the state to win conditional grant funding from the $33.6 million Lower Carbon Grants (LCG) – Gorgon Fund.
Mr Dawson said the Lower Carbon Grants program is one of the ways the State Government funds innovation in the decarbonisation sector it assists the Diversify WA: Future State vision to move forward to a more sustainable and diversified economy.
Following a competitive expression of interest process which saw over 30 applications, five developments have been approved for conditional grant funding.
The projects cover a range of sectors including hydrogen; carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS); and hard to abate sectors.
The LCG program offered funding between $5 to $15 million for large research and innovation activities across industries that significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions or test, demonstrate and deploy technologies that support lower carbon projects.
It was also available for innovators who can offer industry translatable solutions which have the potential to solve issues in current supply chains.
The program is part of a four-year, $40 million funding agreement between the Western Australian Government and the Chevron-operated Gorgon Project, which is funded by the Gorgon Joint Venture.
Mr Dawson congratulated the successful applicants for the Lower Carbon Grants Program – Gorgon Fund, which saw a great deal of competition
“Achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050 is a key priority for the Western Australian Government and we are exploring and supporting innovative programs that are working towards this goal.”
Mr Dawson said the projects have the potential to divert over 1.5 million tonnes of carbon emission each year, the equivalent of taking over 400,000 vehicles off the road.
“The LCG program is another way the State Government continues to progress towards decarbonisation across the state and a cleaner future for us all.”
Chevron Australia Energy Transition General Manager, David Fallon, said the Gorgon Joint Venture is pleased to be a founding contributor to the State Government’s Lower Carbon Grants Program – Gorgon Fund, which includes the GreenTech Hub.
“This initiative builds on Western Australia’s already significant role as a global energy provider.
“Partnership and collaboration between governments and industry can only help grow critical technologies for the future to help meet the world’s energy and climate goals,” Mr Fallon said.
GreenTech Hub
As part of the LCG program, the GreenTech Hub is a $4 million initiative over four years and aims to build state-wide capability and capacity in green technologies and services.
The hub’s first innovation challenge will be to explore advanced energy storage systems with a goal to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and decrease greenhouse gas emissions.
The GreenTech Hub is operated by Curtin University as a standalone facility.
Curtin University is managing the connection and collaboration between industry and academic experts by hosting innovation challenges and accelerator programs.
Each hub innovation challenge is expected to be supported by a dedicated consortium of industry partners focusing on identifying and deploying new technologies to help resolve the identified problem, or challenge.
In this first challenge, exploring energy storage technologies will provide communities in the future with new clean and stable solutions. This includes investigating long-duration and scalable technologies to enhance reliability and efficiency for both urban and remote applications.
Mr Dawson said the GreenTech Hub will be a catalyst to inspire, mobilise and connect green entrepreneurship and commercialisation across the state.
“The hub has now set its first challenge with energy storage and will work alongside industry, government, academics and others on how Western Australia can lead the charge into the future.”
