Overseas investors sought to support hydrogen dream

A number of national and international companies have already visited Tasmania to discuss our hydrogen future, State Growth Minister Michael Ferguson says.

Energy Minister Guy Barnett and Minister for State Growth Michael Ferguson released the $50 million hydrogen package for expressions of interest at Bell Bay. Picture: PATRICK GEE

GLOBAL businesses have been formally invited to express an interest in producing green hydrogen in Tasmania, with up to $50 million of support from the State Government.

The hydrogen package was opened to applications yesterday by Energy Minister Guy Barnett, who said it laid the foundations for Tasmania to become Australia’s renewable hydrogen epicentre.

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Burnie and Bell Bay have been identified as potential hydrogen production hubs.

Tas Ports northern manager Mark Cooper, Energy Minister Guy Barnett, Minister for State Growth Michael Ferguson and Tas Ports CEO Anthony Donald at Bell Bay. Picture: PATRICK GEE

Mr Barnett said they had everything hydrogen manufacturers would need — water, electricity, infrastructure, deep water ports and access to roads and rail.

“We have a plan to be a globally significant exporter of renewable hydrogen by 2030,” Mr Barnett said.

“It’s very exciting, and it will bring on billions [of dollars] of investment, thousands of jobs and opportunities right here in Tasmania.”

The $50 million package includes $20 million through a Tasmanian Renewable Hydrogen Fund, $20 million in concessional loans and up to $10 million in support services.

Minister for State Growth Michael Ferguson said countries including Japan, South Korea, China and Singapore were planning hydrogen into their energy futures and Tasmania had seen strong interest from a range of proponents seeking to produce emissions-free hydrogen at competitive rates.

“A number of national and international companies and consortia have already visited Tasmania to discuss our hydrogen future,’’ he said.

Minister for State Growth Michael Ferguson. Picture: PATRICK GEE

Mr Ferguson said the Government was looking at opportunities to increase hydrogen uptake, including rolling out hydrogen buses, fleet vehicles, ferries and barges.

Mr Barnett last week released the Government’s draft Tasmanian Renewable Energy Action Plan, which included a vision for the state to become 200 per cent renewable energy self-sufficient by 2040.

That plan also included a vision to add bioenergy to the state’s energy mix, but Greens MP Rosalie Woodruff said that would be a “massive fly in the ointment of a green hydrogen industry” and a “total hypocrisy”.

Bioenergy would be created by burning the state’s under-utilised wood waste and other feedstocks to produce electricity, heat and liquid fuels.

Expressions of interest applications close on August 18.