July 1, 2021
The energy transition for a net-zero future will require deep decarbonization that hydrogen is uniquely positioned to facilitate. This techno-economic study considers renewable hydrogen production, transmission and storage for energy networks using the National Electricity Market (NEM) region of Eastern Australia as a case study. Australia is the global leader in the deployment of wind and solar photovoltaics (PV) on a per capita basis, and Australia’s energy networks are planning for energy futures including hydrogen. Therefore, green hydrogen is likely to be cheaper and more widely accessible than blue hydrogen by 2030, and this situation will only improve out to 2050. Australia’s trading partners, such as the European Union (EU), are prioritizing green hydrogen over the long term, which is an opportunity to utilize Australia’s world-class renewable energy resources. A joint study with Germany is building on other international collaborations to assess export opportunities.