Hydrogen superpower: Does Australia have what it takes?
Zero emissions hydrogen has the potential to supplant oil and gas as the fuel of the future — but there are major hurdles to overcome.
In the not too distant future, the Pilbara region in Western Australia may be as well known for its hydrogen production as it is for iron ore today.
Currently in the early stages of development, the Australian Renewable Energy Hub is envisaged as a futuristic 26 GW renewable energy mega project spanning an area three times the size of metropolitan Tokyo. When fully scaled, it will be capable of annually producing 1.6 million tonnes of green hydrogen — more than half of Australia’s projected production in 2040 — and 9 million tonnes of ammonia.
“If you look at the countries that underpinned the energy revolution, they were all petrostates with vast amounts of oil,” says Paul Barrett, chief executive of Hysata, which is developing commercial-scale machinery which splits water into hydrogen and oxygen through electrolysis.
“In the next generation, it's going to be the renewable powered states — and Australia is well-positioned for this.”
