Australia’s Hydrogen & Renewable Energy Act 2023 Sees Light of Day

Australia's Hydrogen & Renewable Energy Act 2023 Sees Light of Day

Both the houses of the South Australian Parliament have cleared the Hydrogen and Renewable Energy Act 2023. Some areas of the state will benefit from the Act with respect to the generation of hydrogen and renewable energy.

The legislative framework of Hydrogen and Renewable Energy Act 2023 looks to introduce a ‘one window to government’ licencing and regulatory system. It will also augment the lifecycle of large-scale hydrogen and renewable energy projects in the region.

South Australia has been witnessing an influx of global investments in its hydrogen and renewable energy sectors, leading the State Government to capitalize on the opportunities this creates while maximizing the potential that the region promises.

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Hydrogen and Renewable Energy Act 2023 will give a push to the projects already in the pipeline in South Australia. The present capital development investment is said to be close to $21 billion and has potential to expand further.

The Act will help streamline the process of investments by firms looking to invest in South Australia’s large-scale hydrogen and renewable energy projects. The regulation will be simplified as the issues of land access, environmental impacts and native title rights will be solved under one process.

The idea of release areas has also been introduced under the Act, enabling developers and investors to compete to get access to wind and solar resources on land owned by the government. This will also help make sure that the most promising projects are selected.

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Provisions under the Act 

There has been rising interest in setting up renewable energy projects on freehold land across the state. Government-owned pastoral lands and state waters, co-owned by Native Title groups are also drawing attention from investors vying for the land.

The Act, has thus been introduced with a view to encourage a sustainable industry that benefits communities, while also granting the respect to Native Title it is deserving of.

To achieve this, land and waters owned by the government, where renewable energy projects can be set up, will be recognized by the State Government.

At the same time, new licensing arrangements will be forged for projects encompassing all land types, thereby facilitating the regulation of the projects across its entire lifecycle. To ensure that the First Nations people are not deprived, their rights and interests will be given precedence by giving early consideration.

Land preservation will also be preserved through rehabilitation by way of Hydrogen & Renewable Energy Act 2023 It will be returned to pre-existing conditions as well.

Large-scale hydrogen projects 

South Australia is hosting a slew of hydrogen projects, especially in shipping infrastructure and modelling tools for investors and developers. Prominent among these projects are AGN’s Hydrogen Park South Australia that entails a 1.25 MW electrolyser at the Tonsley Innovation District in Adelaide.

Australian firm H2U is also establishing a unit that will incorporate over 75 MW in water electrolysis aimed at the production of renewable hydrogen and renewable ammonia on Eyre Peninsula. The hydrogen hub at Port Bonython will also create a large-scale hydrogen production precinct. This will cater to the export as well as domestic markets.

The government has also committed support of $600 million for what could be among the biggest green hydrogen generation plants, boasting 200 MW capacity and electrolyser of 250 MW at Whyalla.

As far back as 2019, South Australia garnered the interest of Neoen Australia, a subsidiary of French renewable energy producer Neoen. The firm unveiled its plans for a massive new renewable super hub in South Australia featuring wind, solar and facilities.

The firm has set up the 150 MW / 193.5 MWh Hornsdale Power Reserve (HPR) big battery project in South Australia, which has been instrumental in stabilising the grid and curbing prices of energy.

The Hydrogen & Renewable Energy Act 2023 by the South Australian government is among the first of its kind globally delving in Green Hydrogen.

South Australia is set for the production and delivery of the supply of green hydrogen with 56 renewable energy projects in the pipeline, worth $20 billion.