Low emissions products go Made in Australia

The federal government has husbanded the Future Made in Australia (Guarantee of Origin) Bill 2024 and its two supporting bills through federal Parliament.

The bills establish a voluntary Guarantee of Origin (GO) scheme, an Australian Government-backed certification scheme to authenticate low-emissions products and support renewable electricity and hydrogen production.

According to Climate Change and Energy Minister, Chris Bowen, the legislation will help Australian producers remain competitive in new and emerging domestic and global markets by accounting for and accurately presenting the low-emissions content of their products.

The legislation will be the basis on which the Hydrogen Production Tax Incentive can be paid, and builds on and complements initiatives in the renewable electricity sector including the Capacity Investment Scheme and reforms to the Safeguard Mechanism.

Bowen said: “We are committed to launching the Guarantee of Origin scheme in 2025 to provide Australian industry with the certainty it needs to make the most of Australia’s distinctive competitive advantages as we make the clean energy transition.

“The GO Scheme is a key element of the energy transition toolbox that our government is putting to work to drive investment as we strive to become a renewable energy superpower.”

The legislation provides businesses and investors with the regulatory certainty to support and encourage investment through a high-integrity certificate scheme that makes sure that renewable energy and decarbonised products can be properly valued.

While the Guarantee of Origin scheme is beginning with low emissions hydrogen, but will expand to cover other manufacturing opportunities like those represented by green metals and low-carbon liquid fuels.

Picture: Chris Bowen