Guy Barnett, Minister for Energy and Renewables,
The Tasmanian Liberal Government is continuing to forge ahead with its vision to establish Bell Bay as Australia’s first green hydrogen hub.
Today, the Tasmanian Government released its International Engagement and Export Strategy for green hydrogen, confirming that Tasmania intends to establish itself as a world leading hydrogen producer and exporter.
The Strategy supports the Tasmanian Renewable Hydrogen Action Plan which sets the ambitious goal of transforming Tasmania into a globally significant exporter of green hydrogen from 2030.
It comes just days after the announcement of up to $70 million in federal funding to help make Bell Bay a national green hydrogen hub – one of the first steps in securing Tasmania’s future in the transitioning energy landscape. This funding will be matched by the Tasmanian Government.
The recently formed Renewables, Climate and Future Industries Tasmania is already forging agreements with off-take countries that will unlock the potential for large-scale hydrogen export and support domestic market activation in Tasmania and on the mainland.
MOUs were signed with Port of Rotterdam in December 2021 and the Government of Flanders, Belgium in early February 2022. The Tasmanian Government is actively exploring further green hydrogen partnership opportunities, including in the Asian region.
International engagement activities extend beyond hydrogen export, focussing also on research and development, technology innovation, green certification, safety, environmental regulatory issues and other identified areas of mutual benefit aimed at accelerating the hydrogen supply chain.
The potential for green hydrogen to provide a decarbonisation pathway for Australia’s Antarctic operations is another key priority of the Government.
International cooperation has already commenced under the recently signed MOUs, including opportunities in niche areas such as marine and shipping applications, off-shore energy and even aquaculture with widespread long-term benefits across the Tasmanian economy.
The Tasmanian Liberal Government is confident that green hydrogen along with our current Hydro assets, world-class wind resources, pumped Hydro and the proposed Marinus Link will make Tasmania the renewable powerhouse of the country.
A copy of the strategy can be found on the Renewables, Climate and Future Industries Tasmania (RecFIT) website here: Green hydrogen | Renewables, Climate and Future Industries Tasmania (recfit.tas.gov.au)
