Australia will export the world’s first shipment of liquefied hydrogen to Japan following the arrival of the Suiso Frontier carrier.
The specially built carrier has arrived in Victoria as part of the Hydrogen Energy Supply Chain (HESC) pilot project, which Prime Minister Scott Morrison said “will make Australia a global leader” in the industry.
“The HESC project is key to both Australia and Japan and our hydrogen industries. In addition to our Government’s support for HESC, we have recently established the Australian Clean Hydrogen Trade Program and committed up to $150 million to the first round that will focus on clean hydrogen supply chains with Japan.”
The hydrogen will be produced in Victoria’s LaTrobe Valley from local brown coal, with aims to produce 225,000 tonnes of clean hydrogen each year.
The government also announced an additional $7.5 million to support the next pre-commercialisation phase of HESC, bringing the Australian Government’s total commitment to the project to $57.5 million.
Angus Taylor, Minister for Industry, Energy and Emissions Reduction, said the arrival of the 116-metre carrier was an important milestone for Australia’s approach to reducing emissions and will help deliver jobs and economic activity in Victoria.