ARENA exploring the potential for hydrogen export

The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) is seeking to explore Australia’s potential to export renewables such as hydrogen — and is currently inviting researchers and industry participants to help shape its focus for future funding opportunities.

In an Investment Plan released in May this year, ARENA identified the export of renewables as one of its four priorities for future funding. Australia has vast renewable energy resources, good export capabilities and strong relationships with key international energy markets, the plan noted — all of which put us in an excellent position to meet the international demand for renewable energy.

“There is a global interest in clean renewable energy and a number of markets have identified hydrogen and its associated materials as key supply,” said ARENA CEO Ivor Frischknecht. “Australia is expected to have a competitive advantage in the supply of renewable commodities, thanks to our abundant solar and wind resources as well as Australia’s proximity and key trading relationships with major consumer countries, such as Japan.”

Now, ARENA has launched a Request For Information (RFI) seeking input from industry, research institutions and governments to assess how Australia might develop export capabilities based around renewable energy and hydrogen. Those who have previously or are considering undertaking research, project development or associated activities around exporting renewable hydrogen in Australia are invited to submit a response.

Responses are sought around the following key areas:

• The production of renewable hydrogen.
• The conversion of gaseous hydrogen to a substance or form suitable for export.
• The (re)conversion of an exportable substance to hydrogen, or an alternative form, and its use as an energy source.

The Exporting Renewable Hydrogen RFI is now open and will close on 18 October at 5 pm. Responses and enquiries should be emailed to hydrogenrfi@arena.gov.au.

For more information and to download the RFI, visit https://arena.gov.au/funding/request-for-information/.