Another big hydrogen step has been successfully taken in Queensland with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) last week with a major Japanese company in Gladstone, Queensland.
The Sumitomo Corporation has entered into a partnership with Queensland and local enterprises to develop Australia’s first hydrogen ecosystem in central Queensland.
This initiative is another major step towards Australia becoming a leading exporter of reliable renewable energy. The Japanese government was one of the first to commit to a target of zero carbon emissions by 2050 and, given that Japan is the third largest economy in the world, the partnership between the Sumitomo Corporation and local enterprises is a major step forward in developing the Australian hydrogen industry. Other signatories to the MOU include the Gladstone Ports Corporation, Gladstone Regional Council, CQUniversity Australia and Australian Gas Industry Group.
The Gladstone region is well very placed to advance this project as it boasts publically-owned ports providing access to international and domestic markets, an abundant supply of water for producing hydrogen from renewables, exceptional solar radiance and all the necessary infrastructure to become a world class hub for renewable hydrogen production.
The Minister for Regional Development and Manufacturing and Member for Gladstone, The Hon Glenn Butcher said “by 2030, Queensland will need a fully integrated, export-scale hydrogen supply chain if we are to meet the demand from countries like Japan.”
The Gladstone Hydrogen Ecosystem design study is targeted to commence next month.
The development of an integrated hydrogen industry heralds a turning point not only for the Australian gas industry, but for Australia’s ambitions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and, hopefully, development of a comprehensive energy policy to set the parameters for the successful transition to a zero emissions economy.