Australia Can Lead the Manufacturing & Utilization of Inexperienced Hydrogen, Former Prime Minister Turnbull Says

Former Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull lately mentioned that Australia has the potential to be a world chief within the manufacturing and export of inexperienced hydrogen. He mentioned this throughout his keynote on the World Wind Power Council ‘s Asia Pacific Offshore Wind & Inexperienced Hydrogen Summit 2023 in Melbourne in direction of the tip of August.

Ex-Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. (Screengrab from GWEC 2023 webcast.)

He pointed to Australia’s considerable renewable vitality assets, similar to photo voltaic and wind, which can be utilized instantly to provide the clear gasoline.

“Australia has all of the elements to be a world chief in inexperienced hydrogen,” Turnbull mentioned. “We have to seize this chance and create a clear vitality future for our nation.”

Hydrogen manufacturing

Hydrogen is taken into account a sustainable gasoline that may assist to make sure vitality safety in Asia. It’s a clean-burning gasoline that doesn’t produce emissions when it’s used to energy automobiles, warmth properties and companies, or generate electrical energy. Nevertheless, hydrogen as a gasoline just isn’t a main vitality supply, which means it have to be produced or extracted from different sources.

There are a variety of how to provide hydrogen, together with steam reforming of pure gasoline, electrolysis of water, and gasification of biomass.

Steam reforming of pure gasoline is the commonest technique, however it produces carbon dioxide emissions. That is known as “grey hydrogen” and is taken into account environmentally dangerous due to the quantity of CO2 launched. “Blue hydrogen” is produced utilizing the identical course of as grey hydrogen, however the carbon dioxide emissions are captured and saved for chemical processing later.

Electrolysis of water is the cleanest however costliest technique. Presently, this technique is what produces “inexperienced hydrogen.” The gasification of biomass can also be a promising technique that produces no emissions, however it’s nonetheless within the early levels of growth.

The price of producing and distributing hydrogen is a significant barrier to its widespread adoption. Nevertheless, the worth of hydrogen is predicted to come back down because the expertise matures and the demand for hydrogen will increase.

Hydrogen a sport changer

Turnbull mentioned that inexperienced hydrogen is the one solution to energy the world with clear vitality.

Firms like Toyota and BMW are specializing in hydrogen-powered automobiles as a part of their electrification of transportation, and truckmakers like Cummins, Damlier-Benz, Hino, Hyundai, Scania, and Volvo are prototyping both full hydrogen or hydrogen gasoline cell engines.

In his keynote, Turnbull mentioned that inexperienced hydrogen is a “game-changer” for Australia and the world. He mentioned that it has the potential to energy our properties, companies, and automobiles with out emitting any greenhouse gases.

“Inexperienced hydrogen might help us to create jobs, enhance financial progress, and cut back our greenhouse gasoline emissions,” Turnbull mentioned. “It’s an funding in our future.”

What Australia ought to do

Turnbull additionally mentioned that the Australian authorities must develop a nationwide inexperienced hydrogen technique. He mentioned that this technique ought to set out clear objectives for the event and deployment of inexperienced hydrogen in Australia.

“Australia has considerable renewable vitality assets, similar to photo voltaic and wind, which can be utilized to provide inexperienced hydrogen. We even have a powerful mining and vitality sector, which provides us a aggressive benefit within the manufacturing and export of inexperienced hydrogen.

“A nationwide inexperienced hydrogen technique would ship a powerful sign to the market and encourage funding on this essential trade,” Turnbull mentioned.

Malcolm Turnbull served as Prime Minister of Australia from 2015 to 2018. He was additionally Minister for Communications from 2013 to 2015. He was instrumental in establishing the Australian Renewable Power Company (ARENA), which gives funding for renewable vitality tasks, and he performed a number one function in worldwide local weather change negotiations, as one of many architects of the Paris Settlement, which was signed by 195 international locations in 2015.