Parliamentary State Secretary for Economic Affairs and Energy signs Joint Declaration of Intent with Australia for joint hydrogen auction
On June 19, 2026, Stefan Rouenhoff, Parliamentary State Secretary for Economic Affairs and Energy, and Australia’s Assistant Minister for Energy, Josh Wilson, signed a Joint Declaration of Intent to further deepen and define German-Australian hydrogen cooperation.
Under a joint H2Global auction, both countries will each provide up to 200 million euros – up to 400 million euros combined – to purchase hydrogen products in Australia via auction and subsequently resell them in Germany, also via auction. Hint.Co GmbH will implement both auctions.
Parliamentary State Secretary for Economic Affairs and Energy Stefan Rouenhoff
“Australia and Germany have shared a close and trusting partnership and friendship for many years. In a time of growing geopolitical challenges, we are now coming even closer together. We are stepping up efforts to base our national energy policies on a broader foundation and reduce energy dependencies. That’s why today, together with my Australian counterpart Josh Wilson, I signed a statement aiming for deeper cooperation in the hydrogen industry and enabling deliveries of green hydrogen from Australia to Germany. With this Joint Declaration of Intent, we are paving the way for a more resilient energy supply and further decarbonization of our industry.”
The joint government funding is intended to offset the cost differential between the higher purchase price and the lower sales price. This provides German industry, in particular, with purchasing incentives aligned with their willingness to pay, as well as access to reliable imports. Establishing hydrogen supply chains to Germany is a key pillar of a resilient, diversified energy supply.
Germany and Australia share a close and faithful energy and climate partnership. In 2024, both countries signed a first Joint Declaration of Intent pledging their respective funding for H2Global. The negotiations that have been ongoing since then are nearing completion, and the design of the auction has been defined. The Joint Declaration of Intent signed today details the long-term cooperation regarding H2Global, which envisages joint support spanning up to ten years. Initial deliveries of renewable hydrogen products – such as hydrogen, ammonia, or methanol – from Australia are expected starting in 2030. German companies require these products to achieve their climate targets.
