The Northern Territory Government has released the NT’s first-ever Renewable Hydrogen Strategy, to turn its natural competitive advantages into clean, permanent local jobs.
Hydrogen has many advantages as an energy storage and carrier. It can be manufactured with zero emissions, is energy-dense and can be stored and efficiently transported. It can also be converted to heat through combustion or to electricity in a fuel cell, without creating any greenhouse gas emissions.
The Northern Territory Government says there is an opportunity for the Territory to position itself at the forefront of this developing industry, with large areas of land with high solar radiance, close proximity to export markets, an established world-scale energy production and export industry and a commitment to net-zero emissions by 2050.
It also notes that there is the potential for hydrogen production, export and adoption to generate significant jobs and investment in the Territory, much of which could be in regional areas and provide opportunities for Aboriginal landowners and custodians.
The Strategy, officially released today, articulates the potential hydrogen opportunities, the Territory’s competitive advantages and how the Territory can leverage these to be an Australian centre for hydrogen technology research, production and use.
It outlines a five-point plan for government and industry to work together:
- Local industry development – preparing local industry capabilities, logistics and supply chains to facilitate the adoption of renewable hydrogen.
- Resource management – investigate how to optimise the Territory’s resources and infrastructure to facilitate hydrogen industry development.
- Grow and harness demand – promote the Territory as an attractive export hub and investigate domestic hydrogen applications to build demand.
- Support innovation – incorporate new ways of researching, trialling and adapting emerging technologies to optimise hydrogen opportunities.
- Responsive regulation – establish effective regulatory frameworks for the development of a safe and efficient hydrogen industry.
In commenting on the release of the Strategy, Minister for Renewables, Energy and Essential Services, Dale Wakefield, said: “This Government understands the enormous potential our renewable energy resources have to create permanent local jobs for Territorians.”
“We can be a leader in the world transition to renewable hydrogen and this strategy provides the vision and the plan to make it happen.”
“The Strategy complements our record of delivering more renewables, taking real action on climate change, and the strongest protections for water and our environment the Territory has ever seen,” he commented.
The Renewable Hydrogen Strategy can be found online at https://business.nt.gov.au/hydrogen-strategy