An expanded toolkit will enable ARENA to support critical technologies such as soil carbon sequestration, carbon capture and storage, production of green steel, and industrial processes to reduce energy consumption.
King Review Technology Co-Investment Fund
95
Helping businesses in the agriculture, manufacturing, industry and transport sectors identify opportunities to enhance productivity and adopt new technologies.
Carbon Capture Use and Storage (CCUS) Development Fund
50
Will support applied pilot projects located near the most prospective hubs. These projects support emissions reduction from power generation, cement, natural gas production and heavy industry (e.g. chemicals and fertiliser production). Potential CCS hubs include Moomba (SA) Surat/Bown Basins (Qld), offshore Latrobe Valley (Vic), offshore Darwin (NT), Pilbara/Carnarvon Basin (WA), Browse (WA).
Establishing a regional hydrogen export hub
70
A competitive process will seek applications from local and international industry consortia, with at least one key bilateral trading partner (e.g. Germany, Japan, Korea or Singapore) to establish a hydrogen export hub. One regional location will become a foundational springboard and jobs centre for Australia’s hydrogen industry, with any type of hydrogen eligible. This hub will attract local and international investment and will to co-locate hydrogen production and users to grow export supply chains.
Potential locations include the Latrobe Valley (Vic), Darwin (NT), north-west (WA), Gladstone (Qld), Hunter Valley (NSW), Bell Bay (Tasmania) and the Spencer Gulf (SA).
Future Fuels Package
75
The Future Fuels Fund will enable infrastructure and remove regional charging or refuelling ‘blackspots’ through a competitive grants process, administered by ARENA. Regional charging and refuelling ‘blackspots’ will also be eligible for co-investment (e.g. hydrogen refuelling sites in regional areas).
New investment in microgrids
67
Support for microgrid deployment projects in regional and remote communities across Australia. Remote mine sites, farms/stations and remote communities can reduce their reliance on expensive diesel generation by installing solar panels and batteries. Recent examples include agricultural businesses and farms on the NSW Central Coast using microgrid technologies to reduce energy costs.
Energy productivity measures
52
A package of measures to facilitate improved energy efficiency for residential and commercial buildings, reducing energy bills and empowering consumer choice. This will include a $12 million program to support community organisations to lower their energy bills. For example, this would help a scouting group install better air-conditioning equipment in their scout hall, or a charity to install solar PV on their building.
Hotel energy uplift program (included in energy productivity measures)
12.0 (included in 52.2 above)
Support for a regional pub to upgrade their air-conditioning or refrigeration systems to a more energy efficient model, or a small hotel to improve the glazing on their windows.
Implementing recommendations from the King Review (Clean Energy Regulator)
25
The Clean Energy Regulator will be responsible for developing new Emissions Reduction Fund methods (ways for projects to earn carbon credits). The Regulator will halve the current timeframe to develop methods from 24+months to less than 12 months. More than 81 million carbon credits have been issued to date. Currently 818 projects registered across Australia.
Better energy and emissions data; development of future Low Emissions Technology Statements; offshore clean energy project development framework
35
1. More accurate energy and emissions data reporting.
2. Funding to support preparation of future Low Emissions Technology Statements (annual statements under the Technology Investment Roadmap process).
3. Regulatory framework to develop MarinusLink and offshore wind energy projects like Star of the South, located off the coast of Gippsland, Victoria.
