Renewable hydrogen offers the potential as a clean, safe and reliable fuel source. Its production is becoming cleaner and cheaper and could sustainably power Victoria’s transport, agriculture and manufacturing sectors.

In 2021 the Victorian government released its Renewable Hydrogen Industry Development Plan, which sets out the blueprint for how the State Government will support an emerging Victorian renewable hydrogen industry. The Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) established the Renewable Hydrogen Commercialisation Pathways Fund (CPF).

Initiatives under the Victorian Renewable Hydrogen Industry Development Plan had the following objectives:

• kick-start investment in Victoria’s renewable hydrogen sector
• unlock co-investment and partnership opportunities for applicants, creating new jobs and economic growth for Victoria
• provide an evidence base for decarbonisation through renewable hydrogen and enable demonstration projects to lead the way to commercialisation
• raise awareness of hydrogen in Victoria
• create a streamlined process for industry-government interactions and knowledge sharing.

The CPF was awarded to projects that will see Victoria produce and use renewable hydrogen trials and demonstrations in real-world applications.

Boundary Power received a $176,150 CPF grant to develop a demonstration plant – the first of its kind in Australia. The renewable Stand-Alone Power System will use solar power and a renewable hydrogen hydride battery to store and generate electricity when required.