By AFP - Agence France Presse
Australian “green” hydrogen project under threat
A major Australian “green” hydrogen project was left in limbo on Tuesday after a state government withdrew its support, dealing a blow to the country's renewable energy ambitions.
The project aims to build a hydrogen production plant in central Queensland, which would produce low-emission fuel destined for countries such as Japan and Singapore.
Although the Australian government pledged US$40 million for the construction, state authorities withdrew their support on Monday night, citing the rising cost.
Climate Change Minister Chris Bowen said on Tuesday that this was “surprising and disappointing”.
“Green hydrogen stands out for Australia's unique strengths and we have no compunction about pursuing a sector that is recognized as playing an important role in the future of manufacturing and energy in Australia and around the world,” he said in a statement.
It was unclear whether the hydrogen center could go ahead without state government support.
Bowen said it would be a “commercial decision for the parties involved”.
Japanese companies Iwatani Corporation and Marubeni Corporation are listed as partners, along with Singapore-based asset manager Keppel.
A Queensland state spokesman said the cost of the new infrastructure and transportation facilities would have run into hundreds of millions of US dollars.
The Australian government wants to build seven “hydrogen centers” across the country.
Powered by solar panels and wind turbines, these centers would split water into hydrogen and oxygen through a process called electrolysis.
The so-called “green” hydrogen would then be liquefied and sent abroad, where heavy industries such as steel could use it as an environmentally friendly fuel.
Japan, Germany, Singapore, and other countries are eager for reliable supplies of hydrogen fuel.
Although promising, green hydrogen production has been plagued by technical headaches and the increasingly high cost of a tailor-made infrastructure.
Australian utility company Origin Energy dropped out of a planned hydrogen plant in October, saying the global market was “developing more slowly than anticipated”.
Mining magnate Andrew Forrest shelved similar plans months earlier.
Last year, the International Energy Agency noted that “several projects have been canceled due to uncertainty about demand or regulations, financial obstacles, licensing, and permitting issues”.
sft/djw/sco
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