Perth, Western Australia: The Australian Hydrogen Council (AHC) has welcomed the Federal Government’s National Reconstruction Fund amid a renewed focus on domestic manufacturing capabilities but says low-cost renewable energy and hydrogen hold the key to future Australian manufacturing.

AHC CEO Dr Fiona Simon will tell over 600 delegates at the Australian Hydrogen Conference in Perth that a national approach to building renewables and other vital infrastructure to produce and use hydrogen is critical if Australia is to gain a competitive advantage in the global energy transition.

“This is a long-term play and Australia sits in a prime position to take advantage of the opportunities. But we need a nationally integrated policy that looks to the long term to incentivise domestic manufacturing and open up export markets.

“Becoming a ‘renewable energy superpower’ will boost Australian manufacturing in the long-term, providing an economic and national security benefit. Not only can we export hydrogen, we can use it to manufacture direct reduced iron, alumina and fertiliser, both to decarbonise domestic use and to export to other nations.

“Economics will favour countries that can transition quickly to low-cost renewables to enable onshore processing and manufacturing for exports. And politics will favour countries like ours that are trusted trading partners, with shared democratic values,” Dr Simon said.

“This conference is the key meeting place for Australia’s hydrogen industry and Perth is a strong location given the WA Government’s vision to be a significant producer, exporter and user of hydrogen,” added Dr Simon.

Hydrogen industry leaders speaking at the conference include:

• The Hon Alannah MacTiernan MLC, Minister for Regional Development; Agriculture and Food; Hydrogen Industry, Western Australian Government
• The Hon Steven Miles MP, Deputy Premier of Queensland, Minister for State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning, Queensland Government
• Till Mansmann, Innovation Commissioner for Green Hydrogen at the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), German Government
• Sanjeev Gupta, Executive Chairman, GFG Alliance

Across the two days, the Australian Hydrogen Conference will bring together eminent energy experts from across the hydrogen sector to explore the latest emerging projects, challenges, opportunities and lessons and to help shape the future of this rapidly expanding sector across the nation and overseas.