(525a) Hydrogen Export Industry in Australia: Requirements of Further Technical Research

Australia is already a global leader in the export of liquefied natural gas (LNG), which is central to the global energy transition away from coal that is now underway. Hydrogen (H2) has been identified as central to the decarbonisation of the energy and industrial sectors. By building upon our world-leading track record as global supplier of LNG, Australia is uniquely poised to take the lead in establishing a large-scale, international trade in hydrogen. If adequately supported, this nascent hydrogen trade could readily become a key pillar of Australia’s future energy export industry alongside LNG.
Hydrogen has been identified as central to the decarbonisation of the energy and industrial sectors. Significant efforts in research and development (R&D) are underway to promote hydrogen production, distribution and utilisation within Australia. Tremendous opportunities also exist to establish a hydrogen (H2) export industry that builds upon Australia world-leading track record as global supplier of liquefied natural gas (LNG). However, many technical challenges exist regarding the most cost-effective methods of exporting H2 from Australia to the large prospective markets in Japan, Korea, China and Europe. Overcoming these challenges efficiently will require Australia to develop systematic and coordinated R&D programs, informed by industry and the experience of other countries that builds upon existing strengths while minimising duplication. The design and use of coordinated research infrastructures that allows for industrial-scale validation of H2 export technologies will be central to this program.
This project hosted few workshops sittings and meetings which brought together global and local experts on H2, natural gas and LNG, representing industry organizations, government agencies, and research institutions, to identify knowledge and capability gaps for H2 export industry. This abstract aims to give comprehensive overview of the current and required R&D activities in Australia to accelerate the H2 export industry, focusing in particular at:

• Presenting driving forces, current efforts and future plans for industrially-focussed H2 research in Australia
• Illustrating the recently established LNG Futures Facility, its capabilities for industrial-scale testing at high-pressures and cryogenic temperatures, and the proposed R&D program
• Presenting an industry-led R&D plan to accelerate the growth of H2 exports from Australia, avoiding duplicating existing research initiatives.