World-first Hydrogen and Renewable Act Bill in South Australia

In a world-first, the Hydrogen and Renewable Energy Act Bill has been introduced to the South Australian Parliament.

With the State’s rapidly growing renewable energy sector, the Act aims to streamline the process for companies wanting to invest in large-scale projects in South Australia, while providing a framework that considers the needs of the environment, Aboriginal rights holders, landowners and communities.

In just over 15 years, South Australia has shifted its energy source from 1% to around 70% renewable energy and is targeting 100% by 2030.

The proposed Hydrogen and Renewable Energy Act aims to introduce a ‘one window to government’ licencing and regulatory system for the lifecycle of large-scale hydrogen and renewable energy projects in South Australia.

Under the proposed Act:

• Government owned land and waters where renewable energy projects can be hosted will be identified by the South Australian Government;
• Companies will compete for licences to access government owned land and waters to deliver these projects;
• New, fit for purpose licensing arrangements will be established for projects across all land types, enabling regulation of the whole project life cycle;
• Public and worker safety will remain of primary importance to the assessment, approval and regulation processes for hydrogen activities;
• First Nations people’s rights and interests will be considered early and throughout the regulatory processes;
• A framework will ensure that developments are delivered with net environmental benefit;
• Requirements will be put in place to ensure land is rehabilitated and returned to pre-existing conditions; and
• Multiple land use provisions will be sought to deliver fair outcomes for landowners, communities and other pre-existing land rights holders.

Feedback from the draft Bill closed in June this year and the summary of the consultation feedback is viewable here.

On the other side of the country, the WA Government will refresh its Renewable Hydrogen Strategy to 2030 after meetings its 2022 goals.

Achievements from the Renewable Hydrogen Strategy 2022 include: approving a project to export renewable hydrogen; using renewable hydrogen in one remote location; distributing renewable hydrogen in a WA gas network; and making a refuelling facility for hydrogen vehicles available in WA.

The WA Government has committed almost $200m to growing and supporting the industry and a consultation paper has been released for feedback over the next four weeks.

WA Hydrogen Industry Minister Bill Johnston says WA has established itself as a global leader in the emerging renewable hydrogen industry in less than four years.

“We know renewable hydrogen has a lead role to play in the energy transition to new technologies, especially the decarbonisation of heavy industry,” he said.

“Over the next decade, the global renewable hydrogen economy is predicted to grow rapidly.

“The [WA] Government is seeking to build a renewable hydrogen industry which assists in diversifying and decarbonising the economy, on top of creating jobs for Western Australians.”

More information is available here.