Seven companies have been shortlisted for the next stage of the ARENA’s $70 million hydrogen funding.

In April, the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) opened the $70 million Renewable Hydrogen Deployment Funding Round to help fast track the development of renewable hydrogen in Australia.

The funding round is expected to play a significant role in supporting commercial-scale deployments of renewable hydrogen in Australia and commence the pathway to achieving the Australian Government’s goal of ‘H2 under $2’.

The shortlisted applicants are APT Management Services Pty Limited, ATCO Australia Pty Ltd, Australian Gas Networks Limited, BHP Billiton Nickel West Pty Ltd, Engie Renewables Australia Pty Ltd. Macquarie Corporate Holdings Pty Limited, Woodside Energy Ltd.

The total grant requested across all seven is over $200 million, with a total project value of almost $500 million.

All applicants have well developed projects that involve deploying 10 MW or larger electrolysers, made up of various end uses including transport, gas injection, renewable ammonia production, power and industrial use.

Among the shortlisted applicants, there are four projects based in Western Australia, and one each in Queensland, Tasmania and Victoria.

ARENA aims to support two or more of the shortlisted large scale renewable hydrogen projects. These projects will be expected to be among some of the largest electrolysers in the world. Each project will need to be powered by renewable electricity, either directly or through a contracting approach.

More information is accessible here.