Australia consults on national reforms to support renewable gases
Consultations have opened in Australia on national reforms to support the roll-out of hydrogen, biomethane, and other renewable gases to be used in the country’s gas networks.
Energy Ministers agreed in August to expedite reforms to support investment in projects that will help to scale up Australia’s clean hydrogen and biomethane industries.
The aim of these reforms is to ensure regulation allows for safe, low-level blending of renewable gases into existing gas distribution systems and for use in gas appliances in Australian businesses and homes.
Minister for Industry, Energy and Emissions Reduction, Angus Taylor, said the reforms support the Morrison Government’s actions to build a clean hydrogen industry and expand biomethane opportunities through reducing regulatory barriers.
“These reforms will encourage even more innovative projects to be rolled out across Australia by ensuring regulation doesn’t restrict investment,” said Taylor. “This will also ensure consumers are adequately protected if using these low emission technologies.
“Blending biomethane and hydrogen into our gas network is an important measure to increase domestic demand and grow these new industries. This scale is needed to help reach our ‘H2 under $2 (€1.28)’ goal under the Technology Investment Roadmap and be a major global player in clean hydrogen by 2030.
“Gas blending will also advance our vision of establishing hydrogen hubs in regional Australia under the government’s $464 million (€298 million) Clean Hydrogen Industrial Hubs programme.”
The Morrison Government is investing more than $1.2 million (€770 million) in clean hydrogen production and export, with enabling hydrogen blending identified as a priority in the National Hydrogen Strategy. Trial projects are underway and larger-scale hydrogen blending and biomethane injection projects are in development.
Additionally, the government is developing an Emissions Reduction Fund method that will credit the emissions avoided from displacing the consumption of natural gas with biomethane.
Energy Ministers agreed in August to expedite reforms to support investment in projects that will help to scale up Australia’s clean hydrogen and biomethane industries.
The aim of these reforms is to ensure regulation allows for safe, low-level blending of renewable gases into existing gas distribution systems and for use in gas appliances in Australian businesses and homes.
Minister for Industry, Energy and Emissions Reduction, Angus Taylor, said the reforms support the Morrison Government’s actions to build a clean hydrogen industry and expand biomethane opportunities through reducing regulatory barriers.
“These reforms will encourage even more innovative projects to be rolled out across Australia by ensuring regulation doesn’t restrict investment,” said Taylor. “This will also ensure consumers are adequately protected if using these low emission technologies.
“Blending biomethane and hydrogen into our gas network is an important measure to increase domestic demand and grow these new industries. This scale is needed to help reach our ‘H2 under $2 (€1.28)’ goal under the Technology Investment Roadmap and be a major global player in clean hydrogen by 2030.
“Gas blending will also advance our vision of establishing hydrogen hubs in regional Australia under the government’s $464 million (€298 million) Clean Hydrogen Industrial Hubs programme.”
The Morrison Government is investing more than $1.2 million (€770 million) in clean hydrogen production and export, with enabling hydrogen blending identified as a priority in the National Hydrogen Strategy. Trial projects are underway and larger-scale hydrogen blending and biomethane injection projects are in development.
Additionally, the government is developing an Emissions Reduction Fund method that will credit the emissions avoided from displacing the consumption of natural gas with biomethane.
