1. Australia and Singapore has established a $30 million partnership to accelerate the deployment of low emissions fuels and technologies like clean hydrogen to reduce emissions in maritime and port operations.

The partnership recognises Singapore’s role as a major global shipping hub and Australia’s ambition to position itself as an emerging leader in the growing use of clean hydrogen and clean ammonia. This builds on the existing Australia-Singapore MOU on low emissions technologies and solutions. Each country committed up to $10 million over five years to fund industry-led pilot and demonstration projects, with at least $10 million of additional investment expected to be leveraged from industry.

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2. As it ramps up its renewable capacity and builds out its pipeline of hydrogen projects, Australia will play a key role in supplying Korea’s hydrogen needs.

Korea will also play a vital role in Australia’s hydrogen industry as its offtake requirements will be a significant pull factor in developing a hydrogen supply chain. Korea needs to start importing hydrogen by the end of this decade to decarbonise its economy and achieve its hydrogen plans. Emerging technologies need to be refined, an entirely new network of regional energy infrastructure must be built, and policy settings must be configured to the unique features of this new market.

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3. There are currently 13 hydrogen projects in Australia with Japanese participation that are under development or construction, across a range of production technologies and geographic locations.

The commercial partnerships are complemented by strong government-to-government frameworks supporting growth in decarbonisation and clean energy. Japanese firms value Australia’s strengths as an investment destination for hydrogen projects - which require decades’-long commitments - including Australia’s strong institutions, and the rule of law. The shared similarities in Australia and Japan’s mid and long-term decarbonisation targets are also providing investors with confidence about making long-term investment decisions.

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4. The Hydrogen Energy Supply Chain (HESC) project, awarded a $2.35 billion Japanese Government grant, aims to produce 40,000tpa of clean hydrogen by 2030, utilizing Latrobe Valley coal with carbon capture & storage (CCS) and shipping a portion to Japan.

The plan for stage 1 is to produce 40,000tpa of clean hydrogen by 2030. The hydrogen will be produced by a joint venture between J-Power and Sumitomo Corporation through extraction from Latrobe Valley coal, in combination with carbon capture & storage (CCS). Some 30,000tpa will be liquefied and shipped to Japan by the company, Japan Suiso Energy and the remaining 10,000tpa will be used in Victoria to help decarbonise industry and transport.

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5. Germany has an ambition of having 10GW of installed electrolyzer capacity by 2030, and its demand for hydrogen will increase to about 4m tons by the end of this decade - 80% of this will have to be imported.

Australia has outstanding resources and potential for the production of green hydrogen and is a value partner of Germany. For German companies to really kick in, a reliable government commitment and incentives are key. A large project operating as well as concrete steps in the supply chain, such as an electrolyser production in Australia, would further increase credibility. Considerable opportunities lie in the field of green shipping and aviation fuel, and, in the longer run, green metals, etc.

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6. Australia’s Tasmania has been quietly pursuing opportunities to establish itself as a leader in the production and use of green hydrogen in Australia, and to be part of the global hydrogen economy.

International companies are planning export-scale production projects in Tasmania by 2027, and some later. The Tasmanian Government has plans for a green hydrogen hub, and has other local projects underway, all of which are supported by important international collaborations. It has partnerships already signed in Europe and is working closely with several Asian friends. The Tasmanian hydrogen story is unique, and its Tasmanian Renewable Hydrogen Action Plan, released in 2020, is proving to be a blueprint for future success.