More than $140 million in federal funding will be spent to establish a hydrogen hub in Perth and another in the Pilbara as the Morrison government aims to position itself as the government of choice to support Western Australia’s evolving mining and resources sectors.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced the funding, which was part of an existing departmental grant process, on his second day on the election hustings in Perth.
A new hydrogen hub will be established in the Pilbara.
He said the hubs would create 3600 jobs when all the projects were operational.
Morrison also announced $50 million would be spent on a partnership with Curtin University for research and the development of supply chains for critical minerals such as nickel, cobalt and lithium.
“These investments will also turbocharge the development of Australia’s critical minerals and clean hydrogen industries, helping achieve the government’s vision to make Australia a global producer and exporter of clean hydrogen by 2030, while stimulating a surge in regions across WA,” he said.
Hydrogen produces no emissions when use as a fuel, but its production can be very carbon-intensive.
Most hydrogen is now made from gas or coal with the emissions from this ‘grey’ hydrogen released to the atmosphere.
It is possible to capture and store some, but not all, of these emissions to produce less polluting ‘blue hydrogen.’
Alternatively, renewable energy can be used to split hydrogen atoms from water molecules to make emissions-free ‘green’ hydrogen.
PM promises thousands of jobs to ‘turbocharge’ WA regions
Source: Philippines Alive
