Mid West Hydrogen Technology Cluster meets to discuss need for infrastructure investment

A taskforce dedicated making the Mid West a hub for renewable energy production met in Geraldton for the first time last week to discuss the barriers affecting investment in the region’s hydrogen industry.

The Mid West Hydrogen Technology Cluster is one of 18 working groups which have been set up around the Australia to support the growth of the country’s renewables sector.

The clusters are driven by local businesses and industry stakeholders, who then advise government on what is needed to develop the Mid West’s hydrogen network.

Mid West Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Todd West said the region’s climate made it an ideal hydrogen hub.

“For hydrogen to be produced you need prolific amounts of renewable energy and in the Mid West we are full of sun, and we are usually full of wind, so we have all the attributes to create the product,” he said.

But he said the region required significant upgrades to power, water, and road infrastructure to attract investors to the Mid West.

“Without power and water you don’t have a hydrogen industry. The Mid West requires significant upgrades in power, significant upgrades in water, the port, roads, and all of those infrastructure items which are nowhere near where they need to be,” he said.

“A lot of money has to be spent on those infrastructure items to make them viable.”

Mr West said the cluster would meet again in the coming weeks to discuss which projects it would focus on to help support industry growth.