It's a delight to be here today with my colleague, the Minister for resources in Northern Australia,
Keith Pitt, as well as His Excellency, the German ambassador to Australia to sign this
declaration of intent for a feasibility study on Australia, Germany investment in hydrogen
from renewable energy. This is a very exciting opportunity through this joint declaration
to build on Australia and Germany's leadership in terms of undertaking work on the potential
of hydrogen energy from renewable resources. Australia and Germany have such diverse relationships
and work closely together in so many different fora towards the success of each of our countries,
but also in making enormous contributions right throughout the world in a range of different
ways. We are committed to deepening and strengthening the business and research link between our
countries, but also to the contribution that those business and research links can make
to transformation right across the rest of the world. bilateral cooperation announced
today through this phase ability study will help to boost development of new energy technologies.
And importantly, it will bring us one step closer to the potential of hydrogen as a clean,
reliable, affordable, and sustainable source of energy for the future. The hydrogen feasibility
study will examine opportunities for trade, investment and job creation along the hydrogen
supply chain between Australia and Germany. Australia is well placed to supply low emissions
hydrogen in Germany is a valuable partner in this journey. As a supplier of advanced
technology and scientific expertise. These are skills that together can mean that we
can be world leaders in the development of the highest In supply chain, this kind of
investment and cooperation is exactly where Australia wants to see work that can help
ultimately, to underwrite our clean energy trading future, as a nation of bountiful resources,
with a rich history of being a reliable supplier of affordable energy, right throughout the
world. And we see the potential to build on that, with these new technologies into the
future. We also know that together with Germany and our other partners around the world, we
have real challenges in bouncing back from COVID-19 and the pandemic because that has
disrupted all of our economies. And this type of cooperation is going to be important to
building confidence to building hope and to ensuring our future success together. My thanks
to our partners in Germany for what they have done in working with us here, and I look forward
to seeing wonderful outcomes from this feasibility study. Thanks very much and over to you Keith.
Well, thanks minister Birmingham Could I thank the Minister for his remarks. I can also
thank the German ambassador to Australia, His Excellency for his attendance and joining
us here today. But most importantly, to the people of Germany and its governments with
whom we've enjoyed a very long standing cooperation in energy research. The study announced today
reinforces our commitment to continue to work together as natural partners in World Class
energy research. The strong government supports the development of a strong and world leading
hydrogen industry in Australia. Emerging technologies such as hydrogen are a key part of our strategy
to lower emissions while helping Australian industry to thrive. We've made it a high priority
to invest in such technologies to improve productivity, create jobs, and particularly
in sectors such as agriculture, resources and manufacturing, where we have a comparative
advantage. This has now become even more important as we work to recover from the impacts of
COVID-19 and build a more resilient economy. The good thing about hydrogen is that can
be used to pay our vehicles generate heat and electricity and used as chemical feedstock
in major industrial applications. Australia has what it takes to be a world leader in
hydrogen production and export. We have abundant land and energy resources and a reputation
as a trusted energy exporter, Australia and Germany and natural partners in hydrogen.
By cooperating on this study, we have an opportunity to be a hydrogen partner of choice for Germany
and for the global hydrogen industry at large. I look forward to seeing how industries will
work together to build a secure and reliable hydrogen supply chain that will benefit both
of our nation's.
Dear Ambassador and honoured Ladies and Gentlemen
Green hydrogen is on everyone's lips these days and weeks, and in the end
we all know we can only achieve our Paris climate targets if
the use of hydrogen is given a key role globally.
To achieve the intended sustainable energy supply in industry and in areas that
cannot be electrified, we require, especially in Germany,
large quantities of hydrogen from renewable energy. From today's perspective, we cannot produce
the required volumes in Germany and – let me make it very clear -
Germany will have to remain a major energy importer into the future.
Our national hydrogen strategy is based on this reality. The development of
a hydrogen economy is, within Germany, a question of developing innovative technologies
for the production of green hydrogen and, in parallel – which is why
we are here today - international cooperation for the production and establishment of stable supply chains.
This is why the development of good international cooperation on hydrogen is vital for us,
and this is why we are also intensively engaged in this, as we are doing with Australia
today.
Hydrogen from renewable energy enables us to adjust industries such as steel and chemicals
to sustainable processes; store renewable energy and transport sustainably generated energy
across long distances. Hydrogen will become a major economic factor
of the 21st century, and this applies to technology developers as well as to
hydrogen producers themselves. It opens up opportunities
for new business models everywhere and, in the end, well-paid workplaces. In Germany,
we launched in June the "Hydrogen Republic of Germany" ideas competition.
With this competition, we want to swiftly initiate major, major, industry-led lead projects on the key issues
of a green hydrogen economy. These lead projects are intended to bring together
hydrogen technology expertise in science, industry and civil society
and to enable the development, design and implementation of hydrogen solutions on an industrial
scale. We have already received concept outlines, but I would like to
say once again that further submissions are possible and we look forward to receiving them.
German companies and research institutions already have a wide range of innovative
technologies for producing green hydrogen. They also have the necessary technical know-how
to produce, store, transport and use green hydrogen.
And that is why we are now aiming for close cooperation, because Australia
and Germany, when it comes to hydrogen from renewable energies, are a
so-called ‘perfect match’ - that is, perfect partners.
Australia has excellent conditions for becoming one of the world's largest producers of
hydrogen from renewable energy: plenty of wind, plenty of sun and sufficient space.
And we can look back on a decade – or several decades – of trust and cooperation,
and now we are taking on this project and together building a global hydrogen
economy. I am very pleased that I have just been able to sign the Joint
Declaration of Intent here and that the two colleagues from Australia have
already done so. And that you, dear Ambassador, are here with me today.
Together with the Australian government, we will conduct a feasibility study
to determine whether and how green hydrogen can be transported from Australia to Germany.
This will cover issues along the entire supply chain, from production and
storage to transport and, eventually, its subsequent use.
Over the next two years, we want to jointly investigate which technological,
economic and regulatory solutions we must develop together to make a German-Australian
hydrogen supply chain possible. For this purpose, we are providing more than €1.5 million.
One of the hallmarks of progress in the 21st century is robust collaboration between
science and business. The early involvement of industrial partners ensures
practical relevance and rapid transfer of research findings.
I am very pleased that acatech – that is, the German
Academy of Science and Engineering – and the Federation of German Industries
will bring their expertise to the feasibility study.
I would also like to thank my Australian colleagues, Minister
Keith Pitt of the Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources, and Minister Simon Birmingham
of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade for their excellent cooperation and for
the commitment they have put into this work so we can stand
here today, dear Ms Wood. Around the world there are many countries that
are asking themselves the same questions we are, and with this joint German-Australian feasibility study
we are strengthening the ties with an important player in the other half of the globe.
In this respect, I am looking forward to good and would like to thank you again
for being with me today.
Federal Minister for Education and Research Karliczek Ladies and Gentlemen
Minister Karliczek, thank you for your warm remarks.
I am delighted to have witnessed the signing of this groundbreaking Joint Declaration of Intent
to explore the opportunities of a green hydrogen supply chain between Australia
and Germany.
Australia is committed to taking a practical, technology-focused approach to the energy
transition.
And we realise that we need to work with valued partners like Germany
to develop solutions for decarbonising our economies and shaping
the future global market for hydrogen.
These are key underpinnings of the Australian government’s national hydrogen strategy,
launched in 2019.
Our strategy sets out the path to grow Australia’s hydrogen industry
to 2030 and beyond.
Australia’s goal is to be a global leader in hydrogen production.
We have already committed more than €300 million (half a billion Australian dollars)
to support the growth of a clean, innovative, safe and competitive
Australian hydrogen industry.
Germany is a major energy consumer with a strong desire to decarbonise its economy,
and it has world-class technical and scientific expertise.
Australia on the other hand offers the vast potential of an abundance of sun and wind.
We are a trusted and experienced energy exporter with expertise in creating
new export oriented energy industries.
Together, we can ‘ship the sunshine’ to Europe and the world!
Minister Kaliczek, Australia looks forward to working with Germany
on this study and to capitalising on the results for mutual benefit
in years to come.