The second round of the Queensland Government’s Hydrogen Industry Development Fund (HIDF) has opened today, with the aim to help Queensland firms tap into the growing global demand for hydrogen.
The Queensland Government committed $15 million for the first round of funding under the program, resulting in four projects being funded. In late 2020, the Queensland Government committed a further $10 million for hydrogen industry development activities. The investment is an initiative under the Queensland’s Unite and Recover: Queensland’s Economic Recovery Plan which aims to accelerate economic recovery and create jobs for Queenslanders.
Successful first round projects included:
- Australian Gas Networks in Gladstone to build a facility to deliver renewable hydrogen into the city’s gas network;
- Spicers Retreats in the Scenic Rim to build a renewable hydrogen plant and install low-pressure hydride energy systems at their eco camps;
- Sun Metals in Townsville for a renewable hydrogen production facility and integration of renewable hydrogen into potential applications; and
- The University of Queensland to replace two diesel-powered intercampus shuttle buses with hydrogen fuel cell electric buses and a refueller based at their Gatton campus.
Minister for Energy, Renewables and Hydrogen, Mick de Brenni, commented that with a world-leading solar and wind capacity, the next round of projects supported by the fund will join the previous projects to progress the development of the supply chain. He shared that this round will have a focus on larger-scale domestic applications ahead of more major steps toward export size projects.
“This round of the HIDF will focus on renewable technologies in the transport sector and the integration of renewable hydrogen into wastewater treatment plants,” he said.
“For this next round of the Development Fund we are homing in on these areas that are gaining commercial traction.”
“Up to $5 million in financial assistance is available for round two projects.”
Project proponents may include private sector businesses or companies, government-owned corporations, and local governments.
Applications will be assessed in a competitive merit-based process for funding across two priority categories, which are:
- Application of hydrogen technologies related to mobility or transport sector projects, such as cars, buses, marine transport; machinery such as forklifts or farm equipment; refuelling infrastructure or hydrogen production equipment; and
- Integration of hydrogen technologies with wastewater treatment plants (WWTP), including WWTP hydrogen production components.
To be eligible, projects must:
- Be located in Queensland;
- Fit within one of the mobility or WWTP priority project categories;
- Include infrastructure, plant or equipment directly related to the production and use of renewable hydrogen;
- Be able to secure all necessary planning approvals and licences and demonstrate compliance with safety standards; and
- Use demonstrated commercial technology and solutions.
The fund supports the Queensland Hydrogen Industry Strategy which was launched in 2019 with a focus on attracting investment and driving sustainable industry development.
Applications are open until 2 June 2021.
More information including how to apply visit www.qld.gov.au/hydrogen
