Introduction
In Can also we printed a True Update on the recent Australian federal election (here) and what a recent Labor govt could well mean for the renewables exchange in Australia. The state highlighted that no particular legislation turn out to be as soon as planned for hydrogen.
Australia’s states were more active in looking out to soar on the hydrogen bandwagon. This True Update affords a temporary overview of the present and planned legislation for hydrogen in Australia’s six states and two territories.
Federal
Australia doesn’t web any federal licensed pointers in predicament that deal straight with hydrogen. There are present funding mechanisms in predicament, moreover to recent announcements from the Labor govt aimed at encouraging renewables trend. The federal govt has moreover taken the lead in looking out to earn harmonisation accurate during the states in the regulation of hydrogen. As an instance, Australia’s vitality ministers (at federal and inform stage) recently agreed to amend the nationwide gasoline regulatory framework to tackle biomethane and hydrogen and reassess the definition of “natural gasoline” below the Nationwide Gasoline Law.
The federal govt has moreover commenced trialling a Content of Foundation arrangement that could well at last enable the certification of hydrogen exports as “green hydrogen”. This may well be of explicit importance to Jap and Korean importers, the attach hydrogen is viewed as portion of their plans to be carbon just by 2030 and 2050, respectively.
New South Wales
The government launched the NSW Hydrogen Approach in October 2021. The government has pledged as much as A$3 billion in enhance of green hydrogen. The government objectives to form hydrogen hubs the attach there are geographical requirements for green hydrogen and, importantly, in coal-producing areas (corresponding to the Hunter Valley and Illawarra) the attach “going green” is most incessantly viewed as an attack on jobs and the local economic system.
The government has moreover introduced the Energy Regulations Modification Bill 2021, with a notion of allowing blending of as much as 10 percent hydrogen and biomethane into natural gasoline pipelines by 2030. The legislation moreover amends the Electricity Present Act 1995 and the Energy and Utilities Administration Act 1987 to enable particular exemptions for electricity frail in the production of green hydrogen. Electricity frail for green hydrogen production will moreover be exempt from the Climate Trade Fund.
Western Australia
Western Australia’s economic system is carefully tied to the vitality and resources exchange. It has a extremely expert team and stable export infrastructure, providing vital doable for the boost of a green hydrogen market
In 2019, the government launched its Renewable Hydrogen Approach. As with other states, the paper turn out to be but again aspirational than it turn out to be as soon as detailed. Key areas of consideration were replacing diesel with hydrogen in remotely situated communities and industries, blending hydrogen into present natural gasoline networks, mobility and leveraging present infrastructure and talents to promote hydrogen export. The map has recently been as much as this level (translations in Jap (here) and Korean (here).
Western Australia is regarded as one of the few states imposing licensed pointers to relieve hydrogen trend. The government recently introduced the Land and Public Works Regulations Modification Bill 2022, that could well amend the Land Administration Act 1997. This is in a position to enable for the introduction of “diversification leases”. Whereas here is now not as attention-grabbing as the announcement of a multi-million greenback fund, the loyal impact of this bill will seemingly be vital. The introduction of a numerous rent could well enable the boost of renewables and hydrogen initiatives on crown land or pastoral leases. Presently, pastoral leases ideal enable the land to be frail for pastoral capabilities. The changes could well free up vital areas of land for hydrogen and renewables trend.
The government has moreover introduced plans to introduce as much as 10 percent renewable hydrogen into the gasoline community by 2030. The government had beforehand predicament a timetable of 2040 to earn this.
South Australia
South Australia is a number one inform in phrases of spending money on, and taking action to facilitate, hydrogen trend. In February 2021, the government amended the Petroleum and Geothermal Guidelines 2013 to assemble hydrogen, and its compounds and by-merchandise, “regulated substances” below the Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Act 2000. This modification allowed for the exploration and trend of natural hydrogen below the inform’s petroleum licensing regime.
The government has moreover introduced an map to introduce legislation that can expedite hydrogen trend. The legislation will quilt the licencing of green and blue hydrogen, with the map that the legislation could well moreover be the focus for hydrogen discount. No minute print of the legislation were offered. It’s miles now not certain when an exposure draft will seemingly be launched for public sing.
As with other states, South Australia is promoting a chain of active initiatives. Notably, the government has dedicated A$593 million over four years to form a hydrogen hub in Whyalla (an industrial port metropolis, approximately 400km from South Australia’s capital, Adelaide).
Tasmania
Tasmania already produces approximately 90 percent of its electricity from hydropower. Tasmania exports electricity to the mainland at some level of high quiz by using the Basslink electricity interconnector. Tasmania has established the Tasmanian Renewable Hydrogen Industry Pattern Fund that could well promote the trial of hydrogen gasoline cell vehicles and present loans to boost hydrogen initiatives. There are now not any hydrogen particular licensed pointers in predicament.
Victoria
The government has printed the Victorian Renewable Hydrogen Industry Pattern Opinion. Adore other inform governments, the Victorian govt emphasises the importance of hydrogen and renewables trend. No particular legislation has been introduced.
Queensland
Queensland has been the focus of extra special attention in the renewables and hydrogen residence. Queensland’s present gasoline and LNG infrastructure, solid resources exchange, favourable characterize voltaic local weather, and proximity to Asian markets web made it a favored predicament for trend, significantly with Korean and Jap investors.
The government has now not introduced any hydrogen particular legislation. The Hydrogen and Renewable Energy Jobs Fund has been formed to promote job-creation in the renewables and hydrogen industries. There is moreover focal level on rising “hydrogen hubs”. The mining exchange is a orderly employer in Queensland, so govt protection could well could well aloof be more nuanced than in other states.
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory launched its Renewable Hydrogen Master Opinion in October 2021. Whereas the paper talks about the “extracting value”, “alternatives for downstream value-add” and plans to “pressure economic boost” and “leverage the Territory’s recurring value propositions”, no associated legislation has been tabled for consideration. On the opposite hand, the Northern Territory’s shut proximity to export markets, alongside with its renewables doable, makes it a jurisdiction to investigate cross-test.
Australian Capital Territory (ACT)
Given its minute geographical attach, it is miles rarely unpleasant that there isn’t one of these thing as a legislation in predicament for orderly-scale hydrogen trend in the ACT. Whereas many of the vitality produced in the ACT comes from renewable sources (essentially characterize voltaic), the ACT imports most of its electricity during the nationwide electricity grid, by using New South Wales. The ACT does web some incentives in predicament for renewables, at the side of subsidies for electric vehicles.