Today, Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen met with German Minister for Education and Research Bettina Stark-Watzinger in Berlin to announce four new joint projects under the German-Australia Hydrogen Innovation and Technology Incubator (HyGATE).
HyGATE was committed to under the Australia-Germany Hydrogen Accord signed in June 2021 and strengthens collaboration with German partners to reduce the cost of renewable hydrogen production and supports technology innovation in the industry.
Funding of up to AUD$50 million from Australia and up to €50million from Germany for HyGATE will be invested in new projects under HyGATE. Australia is providing the following funding for four projects:
- $20.74 million to Edify Energy Ptd Ltd. to develop, construct and operate the Edify Green Hydrogen Project in partnership with Siemens to contribute to the Australia-Germany supply chain in Townsville, Queensland.
- $19.48 million to Vast Solar to develop a methanol production plant using heat from concentrated solar thermal energy, including a 10 MW electrolyser producing green hydrogen in Port Augusta, South Australia.
- $8.98 million to Hysata Pty Ltd. to develop a new 'capillary-fed' electrolyser to test the delivery of low-cost hydrogen in Port Kembla, New South Wales.
- $800,000 to ATCO Australia Pty Ltd. for a feasibility study into deploying an electrolyser and ammonia facility in the Illawarra to make advancements in hydrogen technologies and storage in the Illawarra region, New South Wales
Minister Bowen and Minister Stark-Watzinger also released a joint summary report on Australia - Germany supply chain feasibility study, which outlines the steps needed to establish a supply chain for renewable hydrogen between our countries.
The Minister said this collaboration with Germany will help grow Australia's hydrogen export market and support our vision of becoming a renewable energy superpower.
