The Malinauskas Labor Government is calling for designs and delivery concepts from the market for the construction of its new hydrogen facility in Whyalla, in another step towards delivering the Hydrogen Jobs Plan.
Premier Peter Malinauskas made the announcement today at the Australian Hydrogen Conference in Adelaide, where more than 700 global energy leaders have converged. The market sounding process will be open for just over six weeks, commencing today and closing 15 July 2022.
Proponents can obtain further information including how to register and submit proposals, through the SA Contracts and Tenders website.
The Premier will also announce the government’s intention to develop new dedicated hydrogen legislation to license and regulate the production of hydrogen in South Australia. The new Act will provide a single window into government for licensing and regulating hydrogen generation projects, similar to what has been afforded to the oil, gas and geothermal industries in South Australia through the Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Act 2000. The scope of the new Act will cover manufacturing of all forms of hydrogen, including green hydrogen manufactured from renewable energy, and blue hydrogen manufactured from methane in conjunction with carbon capture and storage to permanently sequester the associated carbon dioxide emissions.
The announcement further highlights South Australia’s global leadership in the transition to renewable and clean energy.
Having scaled its generation from virtually zero renewable energy production in 2003 to more than 62% in 2020-21, made up largely of wind and solar, South Australia is one of the leading jurisdictions in the world for the share of variable renewable energy it generates.
As of early 2022, South Australia’s renewable energy sector has attracted more than $7 billion in investment, with a further $20 billion of publicly announced large scale wind, solar and storage projects in the development pipeline.
The Australian Hydrogen Conference is being held at the Adelaide Convention Centre from today until 1 June 2022. The conference is organised by Australian Hydrogen Council in conjunction with Informa Connect, and has attracted sponsors including Santos, ENEOS, BP, AMPOL, General Electric, Australian Gas Infrastructure Group, Woodside, Sumitomo Corporation and the South Australian Government. The full program can be found at: australianhydrogenconference.com.au
Quotes Attributable to Peter Malinauskas
“South Australia’s Hydrogen Jobs Plan is deliberately ambitious. We are building a globally significant hydrogen facility that will keep South Australia at the forefront of the hydrogen industry.
“Its design and implementation, including the completion of a high-quality site selection process, will rely on a collaborative, multi-disciplinary effort by many project partners and stakeholders.
“Through fit-for-purpose regulation, South Australia will be able to provide efficiency and certainty to industry.”
Quotes Attributed to Tom Koutsantonis
“This is an opportunity to design and execute a project that best leverages significant government investment for the benefit of South Australians over the short and long term.
“South Australia has a rich history of advancing new energy technologies that has resulted in over 62% of the state’s energy being generated from renewable resources.
“Just as the Hornsdale Power Reserve has paved the way for four new grid scale batteries to be built in South Australia, with a fifth on the way, the Hydrogen Jobs Plan will help accelerate the state’s hydrogen industry.”