North Queensland Snags Funding for Green Hydrogen Hub
The Albanese Government is turbocharging Australia’s green hydrogen industry, with a A$70 million investment to support the development of a hydrogen hub in Townsville.
The Australian Government is due to release guidelines for the competitive Townsville Region Hydrogen Hub program, which will deliver A$70 million towards projects that accelerate the development of a hydrogen industry in North Queensland.
With matched funding, the region will see a total of A$140 million investment in renewable hydrogen for domestic use or to supply the rest of the world as fuel, energy generation and storage, or as a chemical feedstock.
The Government expects the Townsville Hydrogen Hub will create regional jobs, support Australia’s transition to a clean energy economy, and encourage decarbonisation in hard-to-abate sectors, such as industrial processing and transport.
The region’s port facilities, workforce capacity, and proximity to Asian trading partners make it an ideal location for a green hydrogen hub.
The Government’s investment in hydrogen hubs is now more than A$525 million, including the A$454 million Regional Hydrogen Hubs program for projects in places like Gladstone, the Hunter Valley, the Pilbara, Port Bonython and Bell Bay.
The Australian Government is also investing A$89.5 million to help the transport sector make the switch to hydrogen, including through hydrogen refuelling stations along Australia’s busiest freight routes.
By 2050, Australia’s hydrogen industry could generate up to A$50 billion in additional GDP and create over 16,000 jobs, as well as an additional 13,000 jobs from the construction of renewable energy infrastructure to power the production of green hydrogen.
“This is an important development for Australia and North Queensland. Australia is already one of the largest exporters of energy in the world; a thriving hydrogen industry here in North Queensland will be critical for us to become a renewable energy superpower as well, said Albanese.
“The hub will help secure jobs and economic growth in Queensland, delivering on one of our key commitments, and could also pave the way for exports to our valued trading partners in Japan, South Korea and across Asia.”
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