What is your name? - Name
Are you an individual or organisation? - If organisation, please specify
What changes to existing government support and additional measures are needed to: - What changes to existing government support and additional measures are needed rnment support and additional measures are needed
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How do we ensure an attractive investment environment for private sector finance? Which methods would be most effective in leveraging maximum private sector finance and which activities should governments prioritise with limited funds? How should these methods change over the short, medium and long term? - How do we ensure an attractive investment environment for private sector finance? Which methods would be most effective in leveraging maximum private sector finance and which activities should governments prioritise with limited funds? How should these methods change over the short, medium and long term?
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What level of domestic market support is needed to achieve COAG Energy Council’s ambition of being a major global player in hydrogen? In particular, what types of support will best provide the necessary domestic skills and capabilities and ensure domestic markets are available in the event that international markets do not emerge as quickly or as extensively as expected? - What level of domestic market support is needed to achieve COAG Energy Council’s ambition of being a major global player in hydrogen?
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What market and revenue designs and settings will best allow for sustainable growth of the hydrogen industry and an appropriate level of benefits flowing back to the Australian public? - What market and revenue designs and settings will best allow for sustainable growth of the hydrogen industry and an appropriate level of benefits flowing back to the Australian public?
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What market signals and settings are needed to capture hydrogen’s sector coupling benefits? When should these market signals and settings be applied? - What market signals and settings are needed to capture hydrogen’s sector coupling benefits? When should these market signals and settings be applied?
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What could governments do to encourage commercial offtake agreements for export? - What could governments do to encourage commercial offtake agreements for export?
It would be helpful for State governments to underwrite initial volumes from pilot hydrogen projects – for example a State government could commit to a roll-out of a hydrogen bus fleet.
We strongly believe that an export industry needs to be founded on a well-functioning domestic market. In order to stimulate production of hydrogen and encourage the Australian agricultural industry to decarbonise, the State and/or Federal Governments could mandate a move to green ammonia and other fertilisers. This could be done in a similar way to the introduction of E10 fuel. From the producer’s perspective it would also give them greater security of supply, as all of the major gas users in Australia have faced unprecedented pressure on supply and pricing over recent years because of the growth of the export markets for LNG have outpaced the growth in supplies.
The Federal Government could request ARENA to work with APPEA (the peak industry body) to take the lead in developing model hydrogen sale and purchase agreements. To date there has been limited development of such model forms globally and this would give Australia the opportunity to demonstrate its leadership. Austrade and industry could then look to disseminate these model forms through a global series of workshops.
What would be the best initial scope for a guarantee of origin? Why? Should there be two separate schemes for international and domestic requirements? - What would be the best initial scope for a guarantee of origin? Why? Should there be two separate schemes for international and domestic requirements?
Any guarantee of origin should have an eligibility threshold with a maximum emissions intensity that fosters best practice and also clearly identifies the provenance of the hydrogen production as sourced from fossil-fuels or renewables.
Who is the most appropriate body to develop and maintain criteria for a guarantee of origin and administer certification? Why? - Who is the most appropriate body to develop and maintain criteria for a guarantee of origin and administer certification? Why?
The Clean Energy Regulator has a global reputation for integrity and probity and has successfully developed and implemented complex regulatory mechanisms for Australia over many years now. This would be the logical authority to regulate a hydrogen grading/verification system.
Do existing regulations adequately manage the potential carbon emissions of a large-scale national hydrogen industry? - Do existing regulations adequately manage the potential carbon emissions of a large-scale national hydrogen industry?
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What are the main community concerns about the use of CCS? How can we better manage these concerns and potential CCS projects in regional areas? - What are the main community concerns about the use of CCS? How can we better manage these concerns and potential CCS projects in regional areas?
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What are the risks about using desalination plants or water recycling facilities to produce water for electrolysis? - What are the risks about using desalination plants or water recycling facilities to produce water for electrolysis?
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How can we best balance the water and land use requirements for environmental, agricultural, community and hydrogen production uses? - How can we best balance the water and land use requirements for environmental, agricultural, community and hydrogen production uses?
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Hydrogen production projects will require significant project and environmental approvals at the local, state and federal level. What approaches could help to manage these approvals to facilitate industry development while providing suitable environmental and natural resource protections and managing community expectations? When do these approaches need to be in place by? - Hydrogen production projects will require significant project and environmental approvals at the local, state and federal level. What approaches could help to manage these approvals to facilitate industry development while providing suitable environmental and natural resource protections and managing community expectations? When do these approaches need to be in place by?
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What are the most important standards and regulations to have in place to ensure a safe hydrogen industry and address the community expectations? - What are the most important standards and regulations to have in place to ensure a safe hydrogen industry and address the community expectations?
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As an individual, how would you like to be engaged on hydrogen projects? Which aspects would you like to be kept informed of? Which aspects would you like to be consulted on? Are there any types of issues or challenges that you, or affected communities, would want to be a part of formulating solutions and recommendations? - As an individual, how would you like to be engaged on hydrogen projects? Which aspects would you like to be kept informed of? Which aspects would you like to be consulted on? Are there any types of issues or challenges that you, or affected communities, would want to be a part of formulating solutions and recommendations?
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What are the best ways of engaging diverse communities in regional and remote areas? - What are the best ways of engaging diverse communities in regional and remote areas?
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What role could an industry code of conduct play in gaining community support for hydrogen projects? What community engagement principles would you like to see in an industry code of conduct? - What role could an industry code of conduct play in gaining community support for hydrogen projects? What community engagement principles would you like to see in an industry code of conduct?
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What governance structures (such as legislation and regulation) would the federal, state and local governments need to put in place for a large scale hydrogen facility? - What governance structures (such as legislation and regulation) would the federal, state and local governments need to put in place for a large scale hydrogen facility?
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What further lessons can we learn from the mining, resources and renewable energy sectors about establishing and maintaining community support? - What further lessons can we learn from the mining, resources and renewable energy sectors about establishing and maintaining community support?
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Which existing gas distribution networks or stand-alone systems are ‘hydrogen ready’ and which are not? What safe upper limit applies? Does this readiness include meters, behind-the-meter infrastructure, and appliances? - Which existing gas distribution networks or stand-alone systems are ‘hydrogen ready’ and which are not? What safe upper limit applies? Does this readiness include meters, behind-the-meter infrastructure, and appliances?
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What is the potential to have a test project of 100% hydrogen use in a small regional location and where? - What is the potential to have a test project of 100% hydrogen use in a small regional location and where?
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Which standards and regulations can be harmonised across jurisdictions considering the different structures and market settings (e.g. safety, codes of practice)? - Which standards and regulations can be harmonised across jurisdictions considering the different structures and market settings (e.g. safety, codes of practice)?
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What roles should government and industry play in addressing any consumer concerns and building social acceptance? - What roles should government and industry play in addressing any consumer concerns and building social acceptance?
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How could the actions included in Table 2 be improved? Are there other actions that should be added? - How could the actions included in Table 2 be improved? Are there other actions that should be added?
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How can hydrogen production best be integrated with current electricity systems (for instance, should large-scale hydrogen production be connected to current electricity systems)? Are there barriers or risks to integration that need be addressed in the Strategy? - How can hydrogen production best be integrated with current electricity systems (for instance, should large-scale hydrogen production be connected to current electricity systems)? Are there barriers or risks to integration that need be addressed in the Strategy?
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What, if any, future legislative, regulatory and market reforms are needed to ensure hydrogen supports, rather than hinders, electricity system operation and delivers benefits for consumers (for example by reducing demand during high price events)? What is the timeframe, and priority, for these changes? - What, if any, future legislative, regulatory and market reforms are needed to ensure hydrogen supports, rather than hinders, electricity system operation and delivers benefits for consumers (for example by reducing demand during high price events)? What is the timeframe, and priority, for these changes?
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Do current market frameworks incentivise the potential value of hydrogen to support electricity systems? What initiatives or changes required? - Do current market frameworks incentivise the potential value of hydrogen to support electricity systems? What initiatives or changes required?
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Do current market frameworks allow for sector coupling and interactions between different markets that may result from hydrogen production (such as the interplay between gas, electricity, and transport sectors)? If not, what changes are required? - Do current market frameworks allow for sector coupling and interactions between different markets that may result from hydrogen production (such as the interplay between gas, electricity, and transport sectors)? If not, what changes are required?
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What factors should be considered when selecting pilot and demonstration projects? How can government best support pilots and demonstrations? - What factors should be considered when selecting pilot and demonstration projects? How can government best support pilots and demonstrations?
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What groups or companies could lead a consortium approach to building refuelling infrastructure? - What groups or companies could lead a consortium approach to building refuelling infrastructure?
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What groups or companies could coordinate procurement of hydrogen cars, buses and ferries? - What groups or companies could coordinate procurement of hydrogen cars, buses and ferries?
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Other than emissions limits and procurement policies, how could government actions (federal, state or local) support private investment in vehicles and infrastructure? - Other than emissions limits and procurement policies, how could government actions (federal, state or local) support private investment in vehicles and infrastructure?
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How can governments and industry reduce the financial, technology and operational risks of purchasing new technology vehicles? - How can governments and industry reduce the financial, technology and operational risks of purchasing new technology vehicles?
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What are some ways hydrogen vehicles could be showcased and demonstrated to the community at large? - What are some ways hydrogen vehicles could be showcased and demonstrated to the community at large?
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What are the key enablers and realistic timelines for a transition to: - What are the key enablers and realistic timelines for a transition to:
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Supplying clean hydrogen for industrial users - Supplying clean hydrogen for industrial users
Industrial users of hydrogen will require various forms of hydrogen fuel type and purity level, depending on application.
High volume users will likely benefit from pipeline supply sourced from off-site centralised generation (and storage). Lower volume users with more ad-hoc requirements may be better served by on-site generation and storage.
Major users of gas currently will likely require conversion of existing equipment or the purchase of new equipment to utilise high purity levels of hydrogen or gas blends. Analysis of these requirements would be a crucial element of any pilot and R&D projects to identify cost effective solutions would provide globally relevant research topics.
Early establishment of vocational and postgraduate training will be required to ensure those involved in the supply chain pilot projects have appropriate skills training to ensure safe storage, transport, delivery and use of hydrogen. Learning within a live regional hub pilot scheme will provided unparalleled vocational educational opportunities.
The community will also need to be informed about the use of hydrogen to ensure acceptance as part of any pilot program.
The Hunter Region as a pilot Hydrogen Hub
We believe The Hunter is strongly positioned to be a global success story in hydrogen production and exports and is an excellent candidate for a region-wide pilot project for the following reasons:
Critical mass of population and local business to create a viable supply chain pilot at scale with many opportunities to target and monitor sector-coupling benefits
Potential large industrial users requiring different types and purity levels of hydrogen fuel including, importantly for scale, high load usage cases such as the Orica chemicals plant and Tomago aluminium smelter
World-class large-scale port with existing and economically viable shipping routes to the key hydrogen export markets of Japan and Korea
Proximity of available land and solar/wind resource for renewable energy generation sites close to port
Numerous sites of resources projects that can be repurposed for hydrogen close to existing rail and transportation lines
Strong grid interconnection opportunities for the addition of new renewables generation plants
The need for new renewable generation to replace the retiring Liddell coal fired power station
Opportunities to implement Carbon Capture & Storage (CCS) technologies
Access to the gas transmission pipeline (JGN Trunk Pipeline)
Fully integrated public transport network enabling local and national opportunities for hydrogen fuelled fleet trials in combination with EV fleet trials
Mining companies with an active interest in conducting trials of hydrogen fuelled mine site vehicles
Strong and cohesive sense of community with a well-developed long-term plan for development – a hydrogen strategy could be integrated into the Hunter 2036 development plan
History of successful development of heavy industry and high levels of community acceptance of the benefits of heavy industry and understanding of the need to build new infrastructure to enhance and protect the regional economy
The need to identify a long-term solution to transition a large part of The Hunter region’s workforce from jobs in the fossil fuel industry into a de-carbonised economy
Efficient access as a pilot location for investors and logistics due to proximity to Sydney (international) and Newcastle
An educated and skilled workforce
Existing R&D focus with sector-leading expertise on hydrogen at University of Newcastle and CSIRO, including a joint research program between the University of Newcastle and University of Tokyo on Photocatalytic Hydrogen Generation. Other areas of hydrogen-specific research being studied at the University of Newcastle are:
o Photocatalytic Hydrogen Generation
o Hydrogen production from Salt Water
o Hydrogen storage
o Hydrogen Generation and Storage from Large Organic Hydrides
o Atmospheric Water Generation
o Hydrogen Production from Steam Reforming of Methane
o Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage Technology
o CO2 to Fuels
Favourable characteristics place The Hunter region in a unique position to achieve necessary scale by executing near term opportunities to reduce costs and risks for government and the private sector through proof of concept. Specifically, The Hunter already possesses the key recommendations identified by the International Energy Agency (IEA) in its Future of Hydrogen report (June 2019) as critical in early stages of the scaling up a nation’s hydrogen industry:
1. Make industrial ports the nerve centres for scaling up the use of clean hydrogen
2. Build on existing infrastructure, such as natural gas pipelines.
3. Expand hydrogen in transport through fleets, freight and corridors.
4. Launch the hydrogen trade’s first international shipping routes.
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