(Berlin / Canberra) – Germany and Australia are starting the “HySupply” cooperation project. The University of New South Wales in Sydney (UNSW) is leading the consortium of Australian research and industrial partners who, together with German researchers and companies, are investigating the feasibility of a renewable energy-based hydrogen supply chain between the two countries. A corresponding agreement was signed in September by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and the Australian government.
The feasibility study was contracted by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade for a period of two years. It should look for opportunities for cooperation in the production, storage, transport and use of hydrogen from renewable energy sources. It will also assess current technologies, identify regulatory and logistical barriers, and recommend business models for development and investment. The study is “the central impetus for building a German-Australian hydrogen bridge,” says Federal Research Minister Anja Karliczek. Australia's hydrogen industry has the potential to create around 2050 new jobs in the country by 8.000, said Australia's Energy Minister Angus Taylor.
Industry meets top researchers
UNSW is a world leader in hydrogen research. The government is supporting the consortium with 363.000 Australian dollars (222.000 euros), plus another around 1,1 million dollars (0,67 million euros) in cash and material resources from various sources.
On the German side, the German Academy of Engineering Sciences (Acatech) and the Federal Association of German Industry (BDI) are on board. The German project partners are being funded by the BMBF with over 1,7 million euros.
Open sales markets
“HySupply helps ensure that we can import climate-neutral hydrogen at competitive prices in the future,” explains co-project manager and deputy BDI managing director Holger Lösch. “The project enables us to take technological leadership in the competitive hydrogen market. International partnerships, such as those with Australia, are the key to Germany asserting itself as an industrial nation in a climate-neutral world.”
“Access to green hydrogen is already highly competitive. As an innovation country, we now have to look for suitable international partnerships,” explains Federal Research Minister Anja Karliczek. “This is the only way we can secure the necessary import of sustainably produced energy and open the doors to sales markets for hydrogen technologies ‘Made in Germany’ to German companies at an early stage.”
Australia also cooperates in Asia
However, the Germans are not the only ones who have great hope for hydrogen cooperation with the continent. “This study will help build on the existing hydrogen collaborations Australia has with other key energy trading partners such as Japan, the Republic of Korea and Singapore,” Minister for Finance, Trade, Tourism and Investment Simon Birmingham said. They would all be “critical to building a world-leading hydrogen industry here in Australia”.
The country - and also the committed large-scale industry - has initiated a whole series of small and large projects in the past few months. While research projects worthy of funding are being discussed elsewhere, one gets the impression that Down Under is pursuing a different strategy: roll up your sleeves and develop something practical. It could well become a real hydrogen hub in the next few years.
deep link
https://www.bmbf.de/de/karliczek-wichtiger-impuls-fuer-eine-deutsch-australische-wasserstoffbruecke-13250.html
https://newsroom.unsw.edu.au/news/science-tech/unsw-sydney-lead-hydrogen-supply-chain-study-germany
Photos
Federal Minister Anja Karliczek (left) and the Australian Ambassador, Lynette Wood, with the declaration of intent signed in September / © BMBF, Hans-Joachim Rickel
