The Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation is driving the State Government’s focus on a renewable hydrogen industry for Western Australia.
Renewable Hydrogen is an emerging industry that will play an important part in the State’s energy future.
The WA Renewable Hydrogen Strategy sets out the State Government’s strategic areas of focus for the development of the industry in Western Australia.
The strategy aims to harness Western Australia's comparative advantages which include world-class renewable energy resources, vast land mass and proud history of exporting energy to international markets.
Oakajee Strategic Industrial Area – Call for Expressions of Interest
A significant opportunity within Western Australia’s unique renewable hydrogen landscape is the Oakajee Strategic Industrial Area (Oakajee SIA) located 435km north of Western Australia’s capital city, Perth.
The Western Australian Government intends to transform this greenfields site into a globally competitive, multi-product renewable hydrogen industrial precinct.
The area has already received attention from forward thinking organisations that see the potential this region provides.
The government is calling for Expressions of Interest from organisations across the world to identify the infrastructure requirements, operational frameworks and interested parties to activate Oakajee as a premium location to establish a hydrogen project.
The Expression of Interest guidelines and submission form is available on the Oakajee Renewable Hydrogen EOI page.
WA Renewable Hydrogen Fund
In September 2019, the State Government launched a $10 million Renewable Hydrogen Fund to drive a new job-creating industry harnessing the State’s renewable resources. Applicants could apply for grants through a competitive process for feasibility studies and demonstration/capital works projects.
On 17 August 2020, the Premier announced several successful capital works projects as part of the WA Recovery Plan.
On 8 January 2020, the State government announced seven successful feasibility studies.
Renewable Hydrogen and the WA Recovery Plan
As part of the Western Australian Recovery Plan, the State government will boost the Western Australia’s hydrogen industry through a number of initiatives:
- $3 million to undertake legal work to meet commitments made under the COAG Energy Council.
- $2.7 million to expand the Renewable Hydrogen Unit in the Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation.
- $1 million towards identifying suitable locations in Western Australia for hydrogen storage.
- $1 million towards developing a detailed supply chain model for the State that promotes hydrogen and identifies bottlenecks and limitations affecting the hydrogen export industry.
- $600,000 to study blending hydrogen in the Western Australian gas network and related technical, economic and regulatory implications.