A new $5 million program led by CSIRO, Australia’s national science agency, will support research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) collaborations with international research organizations, boosting the country’s hydrogen industry’s development.
The two-year Hydrogen RD&D International Collaboration Program is a significant step forward in the CSIRO’s newly launched Hydrogen Industry Mission.
The Mission brings together government, industry, and research partners with the goal of lowering the cost of hydrogen production in Australia to $A2/kg, a level where hydrogen can compete with higher-emission alternatives.
The engagement program will foster collaboration between Australia’s research institutions and leading international research organizations for the benefit of the domestic hydrogen research and development community, as well as RD&D collaboration with partner countries.
CSIRO Chief Executive Dr Larry Marshall said CSIRO’s missions-led approach encourages collaboration in seizing the new industry opportunities presented by hydrogen.
“Our Hydrogen Industry Mission recognises that, as the global investment in clean energy ramps up, we need to be on the front foot and leverage international collaboration in hydrogen RD&D to give Australia the best advantage we can to capture this market opportunity,” Dr Marshall said.
The program will seek to:
- increase collaboration within Australia between industry and the research community to realise transformative clean hydrogen industry solutions
- build and strengthen national and international research and industry partnerships to support efforts to build clean hydrogen export pathways
- advance low emission technology development within Australia in order to add value and reduce costs in all stages of the hydrogen value chain
- develop capability and solutions to respond to domestic and global clean hydrogen industry opportunities.
Hydrogen Industry Mission leader Dr Patrick Hartley said clean hydrogen is currently enjoying unprecedented momentum from business, research and political corners.
“CSIRO is well positioned to benefit from this emerging global and national opportunity to enable our transition to net zero emissions,” Dr Hartley said.
The Hydrogen RD&D International Collaboration Program is funded by the Australian Government, and follows partnerships signed with Germany, Singapore and Japan to accelerate the development of low emissions technologies, including hydrogen, that will drive investment and job creation in Australia.
