Best of the week — the five most popular stories among readers, January 29 – February 2, 2024

What were the five biggest stories of the week? Here’s what visitors to this site were reading.

5) Federal government to contribute $70 million for Townsville hydrogen hub

The federal government has announced “up to $70 million” in funding to support development of the Townsville Region Hydrogen Hub in Queensland, with construction expected to be complete in 2026.

In a statement on Tuesday, energy minister Chris Bowen said that “with its port, expertise in exports and access to Queensland’s abundant solar resources” the city was “ideally placed” to export Australian renewable energy.

The hub is led by Edify Energy, along with partners including Siemens Energy, Queensland TAFE, James Cook University and Townsville Enterprise.

4) Resources minister less than enthusiastic on green hydrogen

Anyone looking for the federal government to put emissions-producing exports behind it and focus on zero emissions exports of green hydrogen and ammonia would be disappointed at a major speech just delivered by Resources Minister Madeline King to Japanese industry leaders at the Australian Embassy in Tokyo, writes Peter Roberts.

In a long speech King repeatedly reiterated Australia’s determination to remain an exporter of LNG as well as coking coal into an indefinite future, spruiked the export of hydrogen produced from dirty Victorian brown coal, and failed to mention future green resources exports at all.

King said exports of Australian gas were helping Japan reduce emissions, a statement which is only true to a limited degree and in the short term but ensures the continued exploitation of natural gas.

3) Small recycler develops answer to behind-the-scenes powder problem

As our journey to uncover Australia’s 50 Most Innovative Manufacturers gathers pace, we hear from a small business from Robe in South Australia that’s developed a world-first polymer using a difficult industrial waste stream. Brent Balinski spoke to Transmutation founder Brad Scott about the career shift that brought him to plastic recycling.

2) Government announces $200 million for “clean, green Aussie made steel”

The federal government has announced $200 million in grant funding through the first round of the Powering the Regions Fund (PRF), awarded to upgrade steelmaking at BlueScope’s Port Kembla and Liberty Steel’s Whyalla sites.

“Clean, green Aussie made steel is the way of the future. Our economy needs it and it will sustain and create great jobs in our regions,” said industry minister Ed Husic.

According to the statement, the BlueScope project will create about 250 new roles on site during the upgrade and reline. Meanwhile, the Whyalla upgrade is predicted to increase jobs at Liberty by “around 24% over 5 years”.

1) Roy Green on his achievements, innovation and the future

Emeritus Professor Roy Green was named as AM in the Australia Day honours ‘for significant service to business, and to tertiary education in the fields of science, technology and innovation’. Here Roy talks with @AuManufacturing.

And in case you missed our podcast…

In episode 81, Brad Scott tells us about the serendipities that have taken Transmutation to where it is now, developing PostPrime, the growing importance of stewardship, and more.

Picture: Roy Green