WA hydrogen strategy aims for green ammonia, iron

The Western Australian government has released a refreshed Renewable Hydrogen Strategy for Western Australia, with a major focus on producing green products and value-adding to the state’s resources.

The first update in five years, the Australian Renewable Hydrogen Strategy has a strong focus on using renewable hydrogen to produce green ammonia and green iron.

And the strategy highlights the role renewable hydrogen can play in minerals processing and value-adding.

The new strategy is part of the government’s plan to turn WA into a global renewable energy powerhouse – diversifying the economy and setting the State up for the future, according to a statement.

A locally-based renewable hydrogen industry has the potential to add billions to the WA economy as well as thousands of additional jobs per year.

The WA Renewable Hydrogen Strategy 2024-2030 focuses on:

• Investing in infrastructure and activating hubs
• Speeding up approvals and enhancing social licence
• And supporting strategic green ammonia and green metals projects.

WA Premier Roger Cook: “We know renewable hydrogen will play a role in our green energy future.

“The hydrogen landscape has changed significantly over the past five years with advancements in technology and new national and international policy settings.

“Our refreshed strategy reflects the new landscape, with a major focus on using renewable hydrogen to produce the green materials the world needs to transition to net zero – like green ammonia and green iron.”

The strategy was developed in consultation with key stakeholders and incorporates feedback to increase focus on approvals, infrastructure and land, market incentives, delivering value for regional communities and Aboriginal people, and refreshed goals and targets.

Since 2017 the WA government has allocated more than $5.4 billion to support the energy transition, including new generation, transmission and storage across WA’s major electricity networks – the South West Interconnected System and North West Interconnected System.

Cook said: “We’re delivering on what industry needs to make renewable hydrogen a reality – slashing red tape and streamlining approvals, and investing to unlock our strategic industrial areas.”

Picture: Roger Cook