The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has announced a $50 million two-funding round to advance research and development (R&D) for renewable hydrogen and low emissions iron and steel.
Successful R&D projects will be funded in two stages, with an initial laboratory-based research phase followed by a commercialisation phase aiming at scaling up and demonstrating research successes.
$25 million will be allocated to each funding round, with grants ranging from $500,000 to $5 million for successful applicants.
The Hydrogen Research and Development Round comprises funding for two streams: one focused on improving and optimising renewable hydrogen production and hydrogen derivatives like ammonia and another on storage and distribution options.
The low emission Iron and Steel Round provides funding for research that has the potential to considerably reduce emissions across the steel value chain in the short and long term.
With iron and steel accounting for more than 7% of global emissions, ARENA said technological innovation would be critical for the industry to achieve net zero emissions. ARENA added that Australia has a unique opportunity to cut emissions from iron and steel production as the world’s largest producer and exporter of iron ore.
ARENA Acting CEO Chris Faris stated that the two rounds would build on Australia’s tradition of R&D and assist in scaling up renewable energy and low-carbon exports.
“Renewable hydrogen and low emissions iron and steel will be critical to Australia’s net zero economy. The research and development we’re funding now through these programs will underpin our clean industries of tomorrow,” Faris said.
Faris added, “As global markets increasingly demand low carbon products, we need new solutions to bring us closer to net zero. And we need to get that research out of the lab and into industrial applications. This work is about future proofing our iron and steel industries for a low carbon value chain.”
Expressions of Interest for ARENA’s Hydrogen and Iron & Steel Research & Development Funding Rounds are due 1 June 2023.
