PERTH (miningweekly.com) – The Western Australian government on Tuesday announced the investment of a further A$61.5-million to supercharge the region’s renewable hydrogen industry.

"Hydrogen offers incredible potential for our state, with the capacity to sit alongside iron-ore or liquefied natural gas (LNG) as a major export commodity - supporting local jobs and delivering wealth for all Western Australians,” Premier Mark McGowen said on Tuesday

“The government is focused on making sure WA has every advantage to secure opportunities and investment in the emerging hydrogen industry.

“This A$61.5-million initiative will attract investment, support work to grow a local hydrogen production industry and drive local demand for hydrogen, delivering local economic benefits and helping Western Australia meet its emissions reductions targets."

A new A$50-million fund, included in the government's 2021/22 Budget, will be used to stimulate local demand for renewable hydrogen in transport and industrial settings and to drive investment into renewable hydrogen. 

The 2021/22 Budget included funding to develop and upgrade infrastructure at the Oakajee Strategic Industrial Area (SIA) to establish a major renewable hydrogen hub in the Mid-West, delivering on a previous commitmnet of A$7.5-million for an access road into the Oakajee SIA to kick-start activation of the precinct. 

An additional A$4-million will be directed towards developing the plan for activation of Oakajee and for additional infrastructure requirements, and to bolster the Renewable Hydrogen Unit within the Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation.

The new funding commitment comes as the government progresses a A$900 000 investment towards three industry-led feasibility studies into renewable hydrogen projects across the state. 

The studies, supported by the government's existing A$15-million Renewable Hydrogen Fund, include projects in metropolitan and regional Western Australia to support industry development. 

Furthermore, BP Australia will receive A$300 000 to progress their Kwinana Clean Fuels Hub proposal, which would see BP's existing Kwinana refinery facility used for green hydrogen and clean fuel production. 

Two feasibility studies will examine technologies and capabilities to support the transport of renewable hydrogen. 

APT Management Services will also receive A$300 000 to study the conversion of the Parmelia gas pipeline into a 100% hydrogen pipeline.

Meanwhile, Global Energy Ventures will receive A$300 000 to evaluate the technical and commercial feasibility of exporting green hydrogen to the Asia-Pacific from the Gascoyne using a compressed hydrogen shipping solution. 

The government has already committed almost A$30-million towards developing a job-creating renewable hydrogen industry in Western Australia and is delivering on the Western Australian Renewable Hydrogen Strategy targets. 

“This A$61.5-million commitment will supercharge our renewable hydrogen industry, helping to stimulate local demand for hydrogen to get production projects off the ground,” said Hydrogen Industry Minister Alannah MacTiernan.

“Renewable hydrogen presents a big opportunity for industries right across Western Australia to reduce their emissions and embrace a cleaner future, and our funding commitment to demand stimulation will help companies take that leap. 

“This latest round of feasibility studies presents exciting opportunities for hydrogen across Western Australia. 

"BP's proposal to convert the old Kwinana oil refinery into a green hydrogen hub will help to revitalise Kwinana and bring this facility into a low-emissions future.

"We've seen real success off the back of previously-funded studies, including our A$375 000 investment into feasibility of ATCO's Clean Energy Innovation Park in early 2020, which went on to secure a A$28.7-million Australian Renewable Energy Agency grant.”