CSIRO has laid out a plan for Australia to maximise its role in the growing hydrogen industry.

The National Hydrogen Roadmap sets out a path to access the full benefits of a hydrogen economy.

Hydrogen is a clean-burning fuel with a range of uses from powering vehicles to storing energy.

Key points of the roadmap include:

  • Hydrogen technologies are reaching maturity, with the narrative now shifting from R&D to market activation
  • Hydrogen presents a new export opportunity for Australia and could also play a significant role in enabling the further uptake of renewable energy
  • While the benefits are clear, current barriers to market activation include a lack of supporting infrastructure such as hydrogen refuelling stations for transport, and the cost of hydrogen supply for some applications
  • An appropriate policy framework could create a 'market pull' for hydrogen, with investment in infrastructure then likely to follow
  • In or around 2025, clean hydrogen could be cost-competitive with existing industrial feedstocks such as natural gas, and energy carriers such as batteries in many applications

“Australia has a unique and urgent opportunity to turn significant natural resources, including coal, gas, and renewables like solar and wind energy, into a low-emissions energy product and ship it around the world – in some cases literally exporting Aussie sunshine,” said CSIRO Chief Executive Dr Larry Marshall.

“CSIRO is at the forefront of innovation with our partners in industry, government and the research sector, like our recently developed, world-first membrane to separate hydrogen from ammonia for fuel cell vehicles.

“This National Hydrogen Roadmap provides a blueprint for growing Australia's hydrogen industry through coordinated investment to be globally competitive.”