The Western Australian (WA) Government is collaborating with ITM Power and Linde Engineering on a $450,000 study.
The study aims to build a business case for producing hydrogen electrolysers in the State.
Electrolysers are a critical component of producing renewable hydrogen by electrolysis, a chemical process that uses electricity to split water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen molecules.
According to global projections, demand for electrolyser capacity will rise from 0.3 gigatonnes now to close to 850 gigatonnes by 2030 and about 3,600 gigatonnes by 2050.
By 2030, the State Government said Western Australians might have access to up to 100 gigatonnes of renewable hydrogen generating capability.
Hydrogen Industry Minister Alannah MacTiernan said increasing the resilience of our future hydrogen supply chains by developing WA’s sophisticated manufacturing capability to produce crucial components for renewable hydrogen production makes perfect sense.
“Funding this feasibility study is the first step toward manufacturing components for renewable hydrogen within the State. We want to be part of the full technology story in hydrogen,” Minister MacTiernan stated.
As hydrogen production expands, the demand for crucial equipment such as electrolysers will rise, creating a new opportunity for local sophisticated manufacturing businesses.
The McGowan Government invited ITM Power, in collaboration with Linde Engineering in Australia, to prepare a business case for local electrolyser assembly and manufacturing in June 2022.
The business case seeks to establish the location, costs, and local demand required to begin upstream manufacturing.
The production of electrolysers is a critical component of the Western Australian Renewable Hydrogen Strategy.
The Climate Action Fund has committed $500,000 to assist industry proponents in conducting feasibility studies on the potential size, scale, and market for electrolyser manufacturing, assembly, and maintenance prospects.
These studies will enable WA to better position itself in the renewable hydrogen supply chain by giving clearly defined prospects based on possible manufacturing capabilities.
According to Minister MacTiernan, the State Government looks forward to partnering with ITM Power and Linde Engineering in Australia to help WA lead the nation in renewable hydrogen component manufacturing.
“Other industry players involved have been advised that they would also be welcome to seek partnerships with us in the future. We are keen to work with any company that wishes to invest in manufacturing in WA,” Minister MacTiernan said.
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