Guy Barnett,Minister for Energy
Tasmania, as the nation's renewable energy powerhouse, is well positioned to drive the country's transition to renewable energy. This includes our competitive advantage of firm dispatchable hydroelectric generation, which supports the efficient production of hydrogen.
National Energy Resources Australia (NERA) has announced Bell Bay Advanced Manufacturing Zone (BBAMZ) is one of the successful applicants of their Seed Funding Program, and has been granted $100,000 to form a regional hydrogen technology cluster.
I am excited to announce that the Tasmanian Government will match the NERA grant, and provide BBAMZ with $100,000 to assist with the development and help to further underpin our renewable energy future in Tasmania.
The development of a hydrogen cluster around key hydrogen projects and infrastructure hubs, or in regions that will service those hubs will help to enhance local cohesion, capability, and efficiency in the hydrogen value chain. This could mean that Tasmanian companies become better placed to supply new technologies, products and services in an emerging hydrogen industry.
Bell Bay is one of Australia's strategically important locations for development of the emerging hydrogen industry (and sits within the North-East Renewable Energy Zone).
As an advanced manufacturing zone with abundant renewable energy availability, appropriate infrastructure, water availability and port access, it is effectively 'hydrogen ready', and presents a perfect investment choice.
Commenting on the establishment of the hydrogen technology cluster in Bell Bay, NERA CEO Miranda Taylor said "Tasmania has a fantastic opportunity to be a world-leader in hydrogen development and has made significant advances with a legislated 200% renewable energy target, support for hydrogen project feasibility studies and its development of a statewide hydrogen industry network. I'd like to congratulate the Bell Bay Advanced Manufacturing Zone for seizing this opportunity and look forward to them joining NERA's national network."
The announcement of the seed funding for the BBAMZ cluster further strengthens the opportunity for industry development in this industrial hub, and complements the three feasibility studies being supported by our Government's Hydrogen Funding Program which are also located at Bell Bay.
Today's announcement complements our Renewable Hydrogen Action Plan, which sets out Tasmania's renewable energy future by developing a hydrogen industry here, with production to begin by 2022-24.
Tasmania has an abundance of existing and expandable renewable energy resources, and we are well placed to become Australia's renewable hydrogen epicentre, and a global producer and exporter of hydrogen by 2030.
