UK-Australia collaborations announced for renewable hydrogen projects

Six innovative projects were evaluated for their potential to drive advancements in renewable energy. With £3.6 million funding grant from Innovate UK and over $7.6 million from Australia, the projects will help advance innovation and new economic opportunities and strengthen business-to-business collaborations.

Forging global partnerships

The UK-Australia-Renewable Hydrogen Innovation Partnerships Programme is supporting the decarbonisation of hard-to-abate industries through joint UK and Australian funding for green hydrogen projects. Innovate UK and Australia’s Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) worked in partnership to fund innovative projects focussed on the development of commercial products, processes or technical services that will benefit both countries. The programme is being delivered as part of a wider cleantech partnership signed by the UK and Australian governments in 2021.

Strategies for success

The energy transition offers very significant opportunities for growth and jobs in the UK as well as playing a fundamental role in addressing climate change. The UK’s Hydrogen Strategy (2021, refreshed in 2023) sets out how the UK intends to work with investors and industry to build a hydrogen economy as part of the energy transition. The funded projects announced today form part of this effort and will help drive down the cost of green hydrogen, stimulate investment and commercial uptake of renewable hydrogen and industrial decarbonisation technologies. This includes renewable hydrogen production, storage and transport, in particular hydrogen applications to decarbonise industry, agriculture and marine transport.

This is a global endeavour which can only be achieved through strong international
partnerships. Australia and the UK are at the forefront of innovation in the hydrogen sector and enjoy a rich history of collaborating through net zero partnerships. Both nations are committed to developing the hydrogen sector as a secure, low carbon replacement for fossil fuels in the transition to greater energy security and net zero.

Future outlook

Peter Dirken, lead for the UK-Australia Innovation Partnership at Innovate UK said:

‘I am delighted these six green hydrogen projects are now up and running. Not only because they are aimed at bringing much-needed hydrogen technologies closer to market, but also because the collaborative programme they are funded through is proof of our vibrant innovation partnership with Australia’

David Hytch, Head of Energy, Net Zero – Heat and Power, Innovate UK highlighted:

‘This is a great opportunity for the businesses in these partnerships to develop long-lasting relationships that we hope will bring them access to new emerging markets.’

The successful projects include:

Carefreesourcing Pty Ltd and Hydrostar Europe Ltd with a focus on producing hydrogen from floating PV powered unpurified water electrolysis.

Hydgene Renewables Pty Ltd and We are Nium Ltd with a focus on circular, decentralised, on-farm production of green hydrogen and ammonia.

Rux Energy Pty Limited and Steamology Motion Limited – the HyZEM project is supporting hydrogen storage and power system for zero emissions maritime vessels.

Hadean Energy Limited and Modular Clinton Global Limited – the Hy-PACT project focuses on hydrogen production, supply chain affordability, certification and traceability.

Australia Sunlight Group Pty Ltd and Graphene Innovations Manchester Ltd with a focus on accelerating low-carbon hydrogen production and storage capability.

Hamr Energy Pty Ltd and Supercritical Solutions Ltd working on innovative green methanol production using supercritical water electrolysis.