Australia, Japan form clean hydrogen trade partnership

Australia will focus on the export of clean hydrogen to Japan under the Japan-Australia Partnership on Decarbonisation through Technology, which was signed in June last year, Australian prime minister Scott Morrison said on January 6.

The A$150mn ($107.8mn) Australian Clean Hydrogen Trade Programme (ACHTP) will support Australian-based hydrogen supply chain projects that secure overseas public or private sector investment. The first round of the programme will focus on the export of clean hydrogen to Japan under the Japan-Australia Partnership on Decarbonisation through Technology.

Morrison said the programme would help to deliver on Australia’s commitment to reducing emissions by working with other countries to get the cost of clean energy technologies down.

“It is critical that we work closely with our international partners such as Japan to deliver on Australia’s low emissions objectives,” the prime minister said. “Clean hydrogen is central to both Australia’s and Japan’s plans to achieve net zero emissions while growing our economies and jobs.”

The ACHTP will support projects to develop export supply chains and commercialise production of clean hydrogen and derivative clean hydrogen-based compounds, such as clean ammonia.

Minister for industry, energy and emissions reduction Angus Taylor said Australia is taking action to create new economic and employment opportunities on the pathway to net-zero emissions.

“Establishing clean hydrogen supply chains will facilitate investment into Australia and will create jobs for Australians, many in our regional areas,” Taylor said.

The programme will be funded over five years from the A$565.8mn committed for low emissions technology international partnerships in the 2021-22 budget.