BUSINESS HUNTER WELCOMES INVESTMENT AND GROWTH CERTAINTY IN HYDROGEN STRATEGY

The region’s leading business organisation, Business Hunter has welcomed the NSW Government’s release of the state-wide, master-planned approach to rapid scale-up and enabling of a viable hydrogen industry in NSW.

With established, diverse and sophisticated energy infrastructure and a skilled workforce capable of transitioning, the Hunter has already become the NSW Government’s partner in developing significant scale and capacity to implement the NSW Hydrogen Strategy and Energy Roadmap.

Business Hunter CEO, Bob Hawes, reinforced the key measures outlined in the NSW Hydrogen Strategy, which he said would provide more focus for research and development, innovation and transformation and incentives for locally-based major industries to drive decarbonisation efforts using hydrogen.

“This Strategy shows the government is committed to establishing a focused framework for delivery of the NSW Energy Roadmap. The Hunter and Illawarra have capacity to lead energy transformation in NSW and to ensure that that hydrogen is part of our future,” Mr Hawes said.

“By consolidating and expanding on all the previous measures into a clear and comprehensive package outlined in the Strategy, the government is enabling Hunter industries to charge forward with the strong diversification platform in partnership with hydrogen hubs that will drive the application of hydrogen for use and export from this region,” Mr Hawes said.

The Strategy outlined three pillars for delivery which includes a state-wide masterplan to enable investment, establishing strong foundations for industry transition, and incentivising rapid scale development, production, domestic uptake and international export.

Business Hunter said the Strategy presents an enormous industrial development opportunity for the region.

“The Strategy signals confidence for large, diverse and complex industries like that found in the Hunter to make the transition and protect and grow jobs, and it also provides confidence for emerging green industries to establish in this region,” Mr Hawes said.

“The Hunter is rapidly building from our strong established hydrogen framework into a full scale-up of research, development, commercialisation and use of hydrogen fuels from this region.

“Rather than leaving established energy industries at a loose end, this Strategy will incentivise diversification and scale-up to encourage demand as well as production – we hope this can address the uncertainty that has existed.

“We made a strong start in this region, particularly in showcasing how industry across the Hunter can work together with success. With today’s announcement, positive, confident discussions can continue to ensure Hunter businesses and industries are given every opportunity to lead the way in industrial transformation to support domestic and international supply and demand of green hydrogen.”