The hydrogen hub initiative forms part of the Net Zero Industry and Innovation Program unveiled by the NSW Government in 2021 as part of its Hydrogen Strategy. 

The initiative is aimed at developing hydrogen hubs in the Hunter and Illawarra regions but also aims to support hydrogen industries in other strategic locations across NSW. The aim of the hubs initiative is to reduce NSW’s carbon emissions in hard-to-abate sectors, improve air quality, grow and diversify the economy, create new jobs, improve energy security and provide businesses with more choices to increase revenue and reduce emissions.

Funding will be prioritised for projects that can scale quickly and support increasing hydrogen demand which is consistent with NSW’s demand-side approach to developing its hydrogen industry.  The initiative will support the development of hydrogen hubs through two streams:

1. Projects – EOIs for grants for commercial scale green hydrogen projects; and
2. Hydrogen consumers – registrations of interest to identify hydrogen consumers and sources of demand across NSW and within hub regions (noting that grant funding will not be provided under this stream).

Matt Baumgurtel leads the New Energy sector team at Hamilton Locke which specialises in renewable energy, energy storage and hydrogen projects and transactions as part of the firm’s Energy, Infrastructure and Resources practice.

Andrew Smith is a lawyer in the Hamilton Locke Energy Infrastructure and Resources team and specialises in renewable energy projects including wind, solar, energy storage and hydrogen.