Momentum builds for Australian green hydrogen hubs

Northern Territory and Queensland state governments streamline approvals for large projects, as developers sign partnership agreements

Japanese gas firm Osaka Gas has joined Australia’s Desert Bloom green hydrogen project as a partner, working on project management, offtake development and procurement. The Desert Bloom project is being developed by Australian technology company Aqua Aerem in the country’s Northern Territory and will produce 410,000t/yr of green hydrogen for domestic use and export from 2023. Construction will commence in 2022, pending FID. The project aims to produce hydrogen for less than $2/kg by 2029 and has been granted ‘major project status’ by the territory’s government to help streamline the approval process. Aqua Aerem is holding discussions with potential offtakers. $2/kg – Desert Bloom’s tar