Premier Peter Malinauskas touts Hydrogen and Renewable Energy Act at World Hydrogen Summit

Proposed world-first laws allowing big global firms to “grab land” are being trumpeted by Premier Peter Malinauskas at a Netherlands hydrogen summit.

Proposed laws allowing big global firms to “participate in grabbing land” will be trumpeted by Premier Peter Malinauskas in his keynote speech to a World Hydrogen Summit in the Netherlands.

In an address to be delivered on Thursday afternoon (SA time), Mr Malinauskas will declare he wants to make it as easy as possible for renewable energy firms to invest.

He will tout a world-first Hydrogen and Renewable Energy Act, designed to slash red tape and streamline requirements into a single regulatory process.

Details include companies competing for licences to access government-owned land and waters to deliver renewable energy projects.

Mr Malinauskas also says “multiple land-use provisions will be sought” to enable “fair outcomes” for landowners, communities and other pre-existing rights holders.

Mr Malinauskas in March described the Act, expected to be introduced to parliament later this year, as allowing global companies to “participate in grabbing land” with high-quality wind and solar potential.

Premier Peter Malinauskas at Whyalla’s steel plant in April. Picture: GFG ALLIANCE/Brenton Edwards

In comments supplied to The Advertiser in advance of his Hydrogen Summit address, Mr Malinauskas says SA now needs to “take the next step to increase our renewable share even further”.

“South Australia is already a world leader when it comes to renewable energy, now we want to make it as easy as possible for companies to invest in our state,” he is expected to tell the summit, in Rotterdam.

“This world-first Hydrogen and Renewable Energy Act will establish an orderly, fit-for-purpose system to ensure that developments are assisted by a one window to government approach.

“In just over 15 years, our state has transformed its energy source from 1 per cent to

more than 70 per cent renewable energy.”

Premier Peter Malinauskas. Picture: GFG ALLIANCE/Brenton Edwards

Whyalla was nominated by Labor ahead of the 2022 state election as the site for its $593m hydrogen power station.

Unveiling a $2bn Hydrogen Headstart program in Tuesday’s federal budget, Treasurer Jim Chalmers said: “Hydrogen power means Wollongong, Gladstone and Whyalla can make and export everything from renewable energy to green steel.”

Mr Malinauskas says the hydrogen Act will streamline processes for companies wanting to invest in large-scale hydrogen and renewable energy projects, into a single regulatory process covering the entire project lifespan.

The Act’s provisions include:

GOVERNMENT-OWNED land and water parcels where renewable energy projects can be hosted will be pinpointed by the state.

COMPANIES will compete for licences to access these parcels.

ALL projects must have “net environmental benefit” and land returned to pre-existing conditions.

FIRST Nations people’s rights and interests will be considered early and throughout the process.

Opposition Leader David Speirs said Mr Malinauskas had admitted his “experimental hydrogen power station” would not cut electricity bills, so was frantically changing scope to fit within a $593m budget.

“When in government, the Liberal Party was a strong supporter of hydrogen and remains so, however, the private sector is driving innovation and investment in the industry, which is why Peter Malinauskas is walking away from his promise of full government ownership of this project – courting overseas companies,” he said.

“Peter Malinauskas’s hydrogen power plant doesn’t have the confidence of the business community and risks becoming an embarrassing white elephant.”

Originally published as Premier Peter Malinauskas touts Hydrogen and Renewable Energy Act at World Hydrogen Summit